Israel declares new swathe of Lebanon ‘a combat zone’, imperilling ceasefire

Israel extends combat zone north in the first such sweeping warning since the April 16 ceasefire

Israel’s military on Wednesday declared a new swathe of southern Lebanon as a combat zone and said residents in the area should move north, warning it would act “with great force” against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in the zone.

The military’s statement, posted on X, ‌appeared to signal further escalation after more than 120 strikes on Tuesday hit Lebanon’s south and east, despite a ceasefire announced on April 16.

“We advise residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate to the north of the Zahrani River, as all areas south of the river are considered a combat zone,” an Israeli military spokesperson posted on X.

The Zahrani River runs east to west about 40km (25 miles) north of Israel’s border with Lebanon, and the Lebanese territory south of it covers about 2,000 sq km.

Israeli Prime Minister ⁠Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel needed to take further action in Lebanon to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has ‌previously ordered people below the Litani River further south to leave. It already issued individual evacuation orders and carried out strikes in several dozen towns between the Litani and Zahrani.