Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon and Orders Evacuations as Hezbollah Rejects Talks

Overview

• Israel’s military said it carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in southern Lebanon to prevent the group from rebuilding its military infrastructure.
• The IDF issued evacuation orders for Taybeh, Tayr Debba and Aita al-Jabal and later expanded them to additional towns, instructing residents to stay 500 meters from designated buildings.
• Lebanese authorities reported at least one death earlier in the day and later one injury from the strikes, as civil defense teams assisted evacuations.
• Hezbollah published a letter asserting a ‘legitimate right’ to self-defense and rejecting any political negotiations with Israel.
• U.S. envoys have urged Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and Israeli media reported coordination with Washington, while Beirut reviews an army-led disarmament plan tied to the ceasefire.