JUST IN: Israel declares large part of southern Lebanon a “combat zone”
Global Update:
The following report highlights an important international development currently attracting worldwide attention.
The Israeli army warned on Wednesday that it considered all Lebanese territory south of the Zahrani River, about forty kilometers from the border, to be a “combat zone”, and again ordered residents early Thursday, May 28, to evacuate before new strikes against Hezbollah. Israel issued this warning as it intensifies its land and air operations in the east and south of the neighboring country, where the pro-Iranian Shiite movement has reported “direct” fighting, despite the ceasefire theoretically in force since April 17, but which both sides accuse each other of violating. As many Lebanese try to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the major Muslim holiday, the Israeli army has called on all residents in this region to evacuate to the north bank of the Zahrani. The spokesperson for the Israeli army warned that it would act against Hezbollah “with very great force”. Early Thursday morning, the Israeli army once again called on the residents of Tire to evacuate certain areas where it intends to strike Hezbollah, as well as in a locality in the northeastern suburbs of this large coastal city in southern Lebanon. “For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and head north of the Zahrani River,” spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on Telegram. Military meeting Friday at the Pentagon This escalation comes just before a military meeting between the two countries scheduled for Friday at the Pentagon, and in the run-up to new negotiation sessions under American sponsorship on June 2 and 3. The army announced the death of a soldier, after a previous loss the day before. Smoke rises from the outskirts of Tyre, in southern Lebanon, after an Israeli strike, May 27, 2026. © Kawant Haju, AFP Israeli raids particularly affected Tire and its surroundings, according to ANI and an AFP correspondent. The Israeli army had previously called for the evacuation of large areas of this city, and repeated for the second day in a row its order to evacuate Nabatiyé. In this large southern city, ANI reported “huge damage” on Wednesday. According to the AFP correspondent, residents of threatened areas of Tire have fled to other neighborhoods. Authorities, however, warned that shelters were overwhelmed, urging people to head to Beirut instead. Fighters “engaged in direct clashes with enemy forces” in Zawtar el-Sharqiyé, announced Hezbollah, also reporting three drone attacks against troops in northern Israel. Since Tuesday, he has claimed responsibility for shootings and drone attacks against Israeli forces trying to infiltrate this locality, strategic for its proximity to Nabatiyé. The latest death toll is 3,269 in Lebanon Zawtar el-Charqiyé is located on the edge of the “yellow line” delimiting the strip of around ten km over which the Israeli army has taken control in the south of Lebanon, prohibiting access to residents and carrying out large demolition operations. The Israeli army declared on Tuesday that it was extending its ground operations beyond the “yellow line”. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war when Hezbollah reopened a front against Israel on March 2, in support of Iran after the February 28 Israeli-US attack. Israeli strikes have killed 3,269 people since then, according to a new report Wednesday from the Ministry of Health. The military delegation led by General Georges Rizkallah which is to meet Israeli soldiers on Friday “will insist on the need to put an end to hostilities and will present the army’s plan aimed at restricting Hezbollah’s weapons and extending the authority of the State on Lebanese territory”, a military source told AFP. With AFP
Why This Matters:
Officials and international observers are expected to continue monitoring the story closely over the coming days.
Additional reactions from governments and international institutions are expected as the situation evolves.
Readers are encouraged to monitor future developments as the situation evolves.
Source: This article was originally published by France 24 – Infos, news & actualités – L'information internationale en direct and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
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