IDF calls to evacuate 28 Lebanese villages, says Hezbollah wanted to use them to stage ‘Oct 7-style invasion’

The Israeli government on Tuesday instructed the residents of 28 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate and head north, amid the advancing ground operation by Israel Defense Forces.

IDF Arabic Spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee listed 28 villages, mostly close to the border, informing the residents that they “must immediately head to the north of the Awali River, save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately.”

“Activities of Hezbollah force the IDF to act against it. The IDF does not want to harm you, and for your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately. Anyone who is near Hezbollah members, installations and combat equipment is putting his life in danger. Any home used by Hezbollah for its military needs is expected to be targeted,” Adraee wrote on 𝕏.

IDF spokesperson issued orders to evacuate from two dozen villages in southern #Lebanon and to move north of the Awali River (mapped on @LeBeckInt's map in blue below) pic.twitter.com/Dx3AlmyecG

— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) October 1, 2024

Many of the villages and towns have become frequent targets of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah sites in recent months.

While most of the named villages are located close to the border, several of them, including Ghandourieh, Burj Qalaweyh, Abbassieh and Srifa, are situated more than 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) from the Israeli border.

#عاجل 🔴 بيان عاجل لسكان #جنوبلبنان في القرى التالية: يارون, عين ابل، مارون الراس, طيري, حداثا عيتا الجبل (الزط), جميجيمة, تولين، دير عامس، برج قلويه، البياضة، زبقين جبال البطم، صربين, الشعيتية, كنيسة, الحنية, معركة, غندورية، دير قنون - مالكية الساحل, برج الشمالي, ابل السقي,… pic.twitter.com/iKgx7m3oO4

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 1, 2024

Earlier on Tuesday, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said the army’s “localized, ground raids will target Hezbollah strongholds that threaten Israeli towns.”

“Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases, all ready for an attack on Israel. Hezbollah had prepared to use those villages for staging grounds for an October 7-style invasion into Israeli homes.”

“Hezbollah planned to invade Israel, attack Israeli communities and massacre innocent men, women and children. They called this plan, ‘Conquer the Galilee,’” stated Hagari.

“We will not let the 7th of October happen again on any one of our borders,” he declared while highlighting UN Resolution 1701, which ended the Lebanon War in 2006.

The resolution forbade Hezbollah from maintaining a military presence south of the Litani River, around 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Israeli border.

Despite this, Hagari said, “Eighteen years after 1701, Hezbollah is the world’s largest non-state army, and southern Lebanon is swarming with Hezbollah terrorists and weapons.”

“If the state of Lebanon, and the world, can’t push Hezbollah away from our border, we have no choice but to do it ourselves.”

As of Tuesday at noon, no Israeli politician had commented on the ongoing ground offensive, with the only official information being issued directly from the IDF.

Israel's KAN public broadcaster cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying while the operation was planned to be with a limited scope, this could change according to operational needs. The goal, he said, was to eliminate the threat before any diplomatic arrangement would be discussed.

“A settlement cannot happen before the operation is finished. Israel has received the legitimacy of the US for this specific move,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, said Israel has no intention to stay in Lebanon “for months.”

he said in a radio interview, referring to the First Lebanon War, during which Israeli troops captured large parts of the country and only withdrew in 2000.

“I don’t know if it’s a matter of hours or days, but certainly not a matter of months,” Zarka said.