Israel Warns Southern Lebanon Towns to Evacuate Amid Ground Operations Against Hezbollah
The Israeli military has issued a warning to 20 towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately. This comes as Israel begins limited ground operations against the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), stated on social media that the IDF does not want to harm civilians and urged them to evacuate for their safety. He warned that anyone near Hezbollah members or installations is in danger.
Late Monday night, Israel launched ground raids into southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah forces and infrastructure along Israel’s northern border. These operations were approved by Israel’s security cabinet and have received cautious support from the US.
The IDF announced that the raids, which began early Tuesday morning, are focused on Hezbollah targets in Lebanese villages that pose a threat to Israeli towns. Ground troops are being supported by air and artillery forces, and the operation is based on plans by the IDF’s General Staff and Northern Command.
Footage released by the IDF shows the 98th Division, including elite paratrooper and commando units, leading the operation, joined by the 7th Armored Brigade.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the situation, with Austin expressing support for Israel’s right to defend itself. However, he emphasized the need for a diplomatic resolution to ensure civilian safety on both sides of the border.
The ground offensive comes two weeks into intensified fighting with Hezbollah and follows Operation Northern Arrows, launched in September to bring residents of northern Israel back to their homes after evacuations due to rocket fire from Hezbollah.
Doubts Revealed
Israel -: Israel is a country in the Middle East, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Southern Lebanon -: Southern Lebanon is the southern part of Lebanon, a country that is north of Israel.
Evacuate -: To evacuate means to leave a place because it is not safe to stay there.
Ground Operations -: Ground operations are military actions that take place on the ground, involving soldiers and vehicles.
Hezbollah -: Hezbollah is a group in Lebanon that has its own army and is involved in politics and military actions.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) -: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is the military force of Israel, responsible for defending the country.
Civilians -: Civilians are people who are not part of the military or police; they are regular citizens.
Air and Artillery Forces -: Air forces use airplanes and helicopters, while artillery forces use large guns and cannons to support military actions.
Infrastructure -: Infrastructure refers to the basic physical systems of a group or country, like buildings, roads, and power supplies.
US -: The US stands for the United States of America, a country that is giving its opinion on the situation.
Diplomatic Resolution -: A diplomatic resolution means solving a problem through discussion and negotiation, without fighting.
