Thousands fled their homes on Friday after Israel issued forced evacuation orders for nine villages in southern Lebanon, followed by airstrikes that killed six people. The evacuations came a day after Hezbollah rejected a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
Hundreds of families left Anqoun, a village hosting at least 2,500 displaced people, after the Israeli military warned of impending operations against Hezbollah targets there. Roads leading to Sidon were choked with cars as families sought shelter. The Israeli military carried out airstrikes across wide areas of south Lebanon, including Anqoun, with drone strikes hitting cars in the Nabatieh area and airstrikes pounding the town of Kfar Tebnit.
Israel has issued forced evacuation orders for Nabatieh and surrounding towns as its forces advance further into southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to deepen their invasion after capturing the medieval Beaufort Castle on Sunday. Hezbollah attacked Israeli troops near the castle with rocket barrages, according to a statement.
The fighting followed Hezbollah's rejection of a US-brokered ceasefire, which the group called tantamount to “surrender.” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Friday: “Lebanon can no longer be a field for wars fought for others, nor can the south and its people continue to pay the price for decisions they did not make.”
Hezbollah has not been a party to negotiations, instead passing messages through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri said Hezbollah would withdraw from south of the Litani River only if Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon and that a ceasefire must be unconditional. Israel now occupies over 608 square kilometres of Lebanese territory.
On Thursday, Israeli forces pulled out of the town of Dibbin, the first withdrawal since the war began on 2 March. Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers entered the town on Friday. Negotiations continue in Washington, but their success without Hezbollah's buy-in remains in doubt. US President Donald Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with Netanyahu's campaign in Lebanon, as it complicates talks with Iran.
