ISTANBUL

The Israeli army on Thursday warned residents of two villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately ahead of attacks in the area.

In a notice posted on the US social media company X, military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the army will strike Hezbollah-linked sites “in the near timeframe” in response to what he described as the group’s “prohibited attempts” to rebuild its activities in southern Lebanon.

The warning urged civilians living in buildings marked in red on attached maps in the villages of Jbaa and Mahrouneh to leave their homes and move at least 300 meters away from the designated areas.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 335 people have been killed and 973 injured by Israeli fire since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. The UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) also reported more than 10,000 Israeli air and ground violations.

Under the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon this January but instead only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.