Israel has issued a critical evacuation warning for residents of Baalbek, a region in eastern Lebanon, indicating that strikes on Hezbollah positions in Baalbek and nearby Douris are imminent. The escalation follows increased rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel, prompting Israel’s military to activate sirens along the border in response to the rising threat. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly conducted “targeted raids” within southern Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah forces.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli military’s Arabic media division, addressed local residents on X (formerly Twitter), advising them to leave the area as Hezbollah-linked facilities are likely to be targeted in upcoming strikes. Israel’s air force has intercepted numerous projectiles launched from Lebanon, though several have landed in uninhabited areas. Last Thursday, a rocket attack from Lebanon led to the deaths of seven people in northern Israel, including four Thai agricultural workers.
During overnight operations, Israeli forces reportedly uncovered a cache of weapons stored in a southern Lebanon building. Israel has described its operations as precise, relying on intelligence and aerial support to combat Hezbollah fighters in difficult terrain. According to Lebanese health ministry figures, over 1,900 people in Lebanon have lost their lives since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began on September 23. Israel has recorded 38 military casualties since it initiated ground operations on September 30.
The ongoing violence was initially sparked on October 8 of the previous year, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel to back Hamas following a surprise assault from Gaza that resulted in 1,206 Israeli civilian casualties. In retaliation, Israel has intensified its military response against Hamas in Gaza, leading to a reported 43,341 Palestinian deaths, with the majority being civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, a number corroborated by the United Nations.
