Israel military issues fresh evacuation warnings for South Lebanon

The Israeli military on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) warned residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks against Hezbollah, the latest despite a ceasefire.

“Hezbollah’s continued violations of the ceasefire compel the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to operate against it. The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, we urge you to distance yourself from the area and immediately move at least 1,000 metres away,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Mr. Avichay Adraee posted on X.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a new series of Israeli strikes targeting several locations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that it had targeted a gathering of soldiers and vehicles in northern Israel with “a swarm of attack drones.”

The Iran-backed militant group also claimed responsibility for new attacks against Israeli forces operating inside Lebanese territory.

The Israeli military said that following sirens in several areas of northern Israel, a drone “that crossed from Lebanon to Israeli territory was intercepted”.

Since the start of the ceasefire on Friday (April 17, 2026), Israel has continued to launch strikes, carry out demolitions and issue evacuation orders in south Lebanon, saying it is targeting the Iran-backed armed group.

Hezbollah has also continued operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

On Monday (May 18, 2026), the Lebanese health ministry said the death toll from Israeli strikes since the start of the war on Monday (March 2, 2026) had reached 3,020.

The Israeli military says it has lost 20 soldiers and one civilian contractor in southern Lebanon since the war began.