The Israeli military (IDF) has warned residents to return to 60 villages in southern Lebanon. The warning was issued three days after the ceasefire came into force on Wednesday morning. The IDF released a map, marking areas several miles deep. They said that citizens will be at risk if they return to this area. The British media reported the news.
More than a million people have been displaced from southern Lebanon in a more than year-long conflict with Lebanon's Shiite armed group Hezbollah. On the other hand, thousands of Israeli citizens have also been forced to leave their homes.
Although the ceasefire has been in effect, Israel and Lebanon have accused each other of violating its terms. On Thursday, the IDF said it carried out artillery and airstrikes on various targets in southern Lebanon. They claimed that suspicious activity near Hezbollah weapons factories and the presence of vehicles in several areas violated the terms of the ceasefire.
Lebanon claims Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire and is monitoring the situation. A multinational observer group comprising representatives of the United States, France and the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) has been formed to monitor compliance with the terms of the ceasefire.
In his first interview since the cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the IDF to launch a fierce war against Hezbollah if the cease-fire was violated. He also said that this ceasefire could be short.
Under the terms of the agreement brokered by the US and France, Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army would be deployed there. This process will be completed within 60 days.
The area marked on the IDF map extends from Mansuri to eastern Sheba. The Lebanese army also warned residents on Wednesday not to return to the area until Israeli forces have fully withdrawn.
It should be noted that Israel launched an operation in southern Lebanon at the beginning of last month. Before this, on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah launched a rocket attack in the north of Israel. A day earlier, 1,200 people were killed in a surprise attack by Hamas from Gaza.
They said that Hezbollah is carrying out this attack in solidarity with Hamas. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 44,330 Palestinians have been killed so far in Israel's counter-offensive.
Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported that at least 3,961 people were killed and 16,520 injured in the Israeli attack. Civilians and combatants are not mentioned separately in these figures.
On the other hand, 31 Israeli soldiers and 45 civilians were killed in Hezbollah attacks, Israeli authorities said. In addition, another 45 Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon.
