Panic grips residents of southern Lebanon after mysterious leaflets dropped from plane

BEIRUT

Unknown planes dropped leaflets on Friday, creating panic among residents of the Kfar Chouba village and its surroundings in southern Lebanon about "the dangers of Hezbollah's military operations against Israel."

“To the residents of southern Lebanon, we would like to inform you that the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, is infiltrating your homes, your pure lands, and the areas of your work and livelihood, in order to work against the State of Israel, and to exploit your property for its terrorist plans,” the text on the leaflets read.

“You must stop this terrorism for your own safety... Hezbollah members concealing themselves in civilian areas are the real danger, and this is what causes you harm!” it added.

The leaflets did not include any slogans related to Israel or its army, as is usually in leaflets dropped over the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, an Anadolu correspondent on the ground said.

Residents in the region told Anadolu that this is the first time a “message” has been delivered through leaflets since the outbreak of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel on Oct. 8.

Meanwhile, Qasim al-Qadiri, the head of Kfar Chouba's local council, confirmed to Anadolu that the leaflets had fallen on the village and its surrounding areas, but did not provide any details on the parties involved.

Tension has flared along the border between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in the deadliest clashes since the two sides fought a full-scale war in 2006.

The border tensions came amid an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi