BEIRUT: The Israeli military carried out heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday after issuing evacuation orders for several locations, saying Leb­anese armed group Hez­bollah was trying to rebuild its military capabilities there.

The orders and strikes came despite a ceasefire deal agreed a year ago that was meant to end more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and after months of Lebanese army efforts to clear Hezbollah sites in the south.

Giving a preliminary toll, the Leb­anese health ministry said that one person was wounded in the afternoon bombing after one person was killed in strikes earlier in the day.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued three simultaneous evacuation orders on X at 3pm local time on Thursday, with maps showing buildings in the villages of Aita al-Jabal, Al-Tayyiba and Tayr Debba. Two more orders came later for other towns in the south.

The locations ranged from just 4 km away from the Israeli border to nearly 24 km north of the frontier. The posts ordered residents to keep a 500-metre distance from the identified locations.

The airstrikes began about an hour after the orders, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Fears have been mounting in Lebanon that Israel could resume an aerial bombing campaign, particularly after Israeli leaders warned they would take action against Hezbollah if Lebanon did not step up efforts to disarm the group.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025