Israel expands combat zone in Lebanon, ordering mass evacuations south of Zahrani River
The Israeli military has declared the area south of the Zahrani River a combat zone, marking the first time residents have been ordered to evacuate the entire territory north of the border.
Israel has significantly escalated its military campaign in southern Lebanon by declaring the area south of the Zahrani River a combat zone and ordering residents to evacuate north. The Israeli military stated it would act with "great force" against the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah within the designated territory, which covers approximately 2,000 square kilometres. The Zahrani River runs east to west roughly 40 kilometres north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
This directive follows more than 120 strikes on Tuesday across Lebanon's south and east, occurring despite a ceasefire announced on April 16. The order represents a broadening of previous restrictions, as earlier evacuation notices were limited to areas below the Litani River or specific towns. Lebanese security sources reported that civilians are fleeing north toward the port city of Sidon, which is already hosting thousands of displaced persons from other parts of southern Lebanon.
The escalation comes as Israel seeks to pressure Hezbollah while navigating complex diplomatic channels. Three senior Israeli officials indicated that while Israel believes it has freedom of action in southern Lebanon, it is exercising caution in Beirut to avoid complicating US-led diplomacy with Iran. Officials told Reuters that Israel does not wish to be seen as derailing potential agreements between US President Donald Trump and Tehran by conducting strikes in the Lebanese capital.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has persisted. The World Health Organization has reported that at least 608 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks since the truce was brokered. Since March 2, when Hezbollah fired at Israel in support of its ally Iran, more than 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced, with Lebanon's health ministry recording over 3,200 deaths in total.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that further action was necessary to protect communities in northern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that ten of its soldiers have been killed since the April 16 ceasefire, six of them by Hezbollah's explosive drones. While Beirut has been spared new strikes, Israeli surveillance drones have been heard daily over the city, and a warplane was reported flying low on Wednesday.
