Israeli Military Strikes Southern Lebanese Villages Following Evacuation Order

The Israeli military struck two villages in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. This came shortly after it issued an evacuation order for those areas. The order warned residents of the towns of Aitaroun and Aita al-Shaab to leave. The Israeli army stated the warning was for their safety. It did not immediately provide details on the strikes. The move follows weeks of escalating cross-border fire between Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This exchange began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people have already fled villages on both sides of the border. The latest evacuation order suggests military operations in the area may intensify.