The Israel Defense Forces on Monday urged residents of several villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley to evacuate immediately ahead of planned strikes on targets linked to Hezbollah.
In a statement, the military advised civilians to move at least 1,000 metres away to open areas for their safety, stressing that the operations were not intended to harm non-combatants. It said the strikes were in response to activities by the Iran-backed militia.
The military warned that anyone remaining near Hezbollah members, facilities or equipment would be putting their lives at risk and called on residents to leave affected areas without delay.
Hezbollah had earlier claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli military site south of Haifa on Sunday night. The group described the attack as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during large-scale U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
The latest exchange marks the first rocket attack by Hezbollah on Israel since a ceasefire between the two sides came into effect in November 2024, raising concerns about renewed escalation along the border.