BEIRUT: Israel dropped leaflets over a southern Lebanon border village on Sunday warning residents to evacuate, state-run media said, but Israel’s military said a brigade had taken the initiative without approval amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The leaflets, dropped over the border village of Wazzani, represent the first such Israeli directive in 11 months of sporadic cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since the onset of the Gaza conflict in early October.
The leaflets, reportedly dropped on Sunday, ordered residents to leave the area immediately due to ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah. According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency, the leaflets contained a map indicating areas marked for evacuation and warned that anyone remaining in the designated zones after 4:00 PM local time would be considered a terrorist.
The message warned that residents should relocate north of the Khiam region and not return until the end of the conflict.
Wazzani, a mainly agricultural region, frequently employs Syrian laborers, and the evacuation notice has sparked significant concern among its inhabitants. The village’s mayor, Ahmed al-Mohammed, shared images of the leaflets with AFP, confirming the authenticity of the Israeli evacuation order.
Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokeswoman stated that the leaflets were distributed by the 769 Brigade via drone, following recent rocket attacks originating from the area. However, the spokeswoman clarified that this action was not authorized by the Northern Command and an internal investigation has been launched to address the unapproved initiative.
The leaflet drop in Wazzani is notable not only for its direct call for evacuation but also as it highlights the broader escalation of hostilities following Hezbollah’s support for Hamas after the October 7 attack on Israel.
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The cross-border violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. According to reports, the conflict has killed 623 persons in Lebanon. On the Israeli side, there have been reports of 50 people killed, including in the annexed Golan Heights.
The Israeli military’s leaflet drop comes amid broader regional tensions. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have routinely dropped leaflets ordering residents to evacuate areas targeted for airstrikes. However, the decision to issue evacuation orders to Lebanese civilians marks a new phase in the conflict’s dynamics.
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 41,206 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Naim Qassem, has warned of severe repercussions if Israel continues its military campaign with the intent to return 100,000 displaced people to their homes near the Lebanese border. He predicted that such actions could lead to even greater displacement within Israel, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands.
