Israel orders residents to leave south Lebanon town in first post-ceasefire warning

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri on Friday ordering residents to leave, Lebanese state media reported, marking the first such evacuation order since the latest ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.

The development comes as Israel and Lebanon hold talks in Washington on a US-backed proposal under which Israeli forces would hand over parts of the territory they occupied during the conflict to the Lebanese army, Reuters reported.

Before negotiations resumed this week, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to halt hostilities, although Israeli troops remained deployed in what Israel describes as a security buffer zone aimed at preventing attacks by the Iran-backed group.

Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued.

Israel’s military said on Friday its forces had killed seven Hezbollah members allegedly operating near the occupied area. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.

A senior Lebanese military official said Mansouri had recently been added by Israel to its occupation zone. While farmers had continued to access the area, they had not been living there, the official added.

An Israeli military spokesperson described Friday’s leaflet drop as a “reminder” to civilians that the area falls within a security zone where Israeli troops are operating.

“It is a reminder not to be in the area so they won’t be harmed,” the spokesperson said.

Lebanese officials, however, accuse Israeli forces of enforcing the northern edge of the buffer zone by opening fire on anyone approaching it, including civilians and Lebanese soldiers.

The ceasefire has significantly reduced hostilities, but tensions remain high as both sides continue to accuse each other of violations while diplomatic efforts seek a more lasting arrangement.