The Israeli armed forces issued an “urgent” evacuation alert for residents of the Lebanese coastal city of Tire this Wednesday (8).
“To ensure your safety, evacuate your homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River,” the Arabic-language spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Telegram post. The IDF claimed it was targeting Hezbollah in the area.
According to Reuters, sources claim that Hezbollah will announce its formal position on the ceasefire and respond to the Israeli prime minister’s assertion that Lebanon is not included
According to the agency, Hezbollah says it respected the ceasefire in the early hours of Tuesday, according to three Lebanese sources close to the group.
Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran.
“Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, provided that Iran immediately opens the straits and ceases all attacks against the US, Israel and countries in the region,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
“The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” he added.
Israel’s position contradicts a statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped broker the deal between the US and Iran, that . US President Donald Trump did not mention Lebanon in his statement.
Context: In parallel with its war against Iran with the US, Israel has been conducting a major military campaign in southern Lebanon since early March, targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. At least 1,530 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Tuesday, including 130 children.
*With information from Reuters and CNN
