JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israel ramped up its ground offensive against Hezbollah along Lebanon’s southern coast yesterday, after deploying more troops in the country and urging civilians living near the Mediterranean to evacuate.
Israel launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon on September 23, leaving at least 1,110 people dead since then and forcing more than a million people to flee their homes.
Israeli operations have for the most part focused on areas in the south and east of Lebanon, traditional strongholds of Hezbollah, as well as the group’s main bastion in south Beirut.
While areas along the southern coast have not been spared, Israel’s latest evacuation warning to residents suggested a further expansion of the conflict northwards along the coastline.
On its Telegram channel, the Israeli military said its 146th Division began “limited, localised, targeted operational activities” against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon.
The military had on Monday said it would expand its operations against Hezbollah to south Lebanon’s coastal area and warned people to stay away from the shore.
The army “will soon operate in the maritime area against Hezbollah’s terrorist activities” south of the Al-Awali river, army spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on social media.
Yesterday, he reiterated the call to residents of south Lebanon not to return home.
