Hezbollah Declares 25 Israeli Towns “War Zones,” Orders Immediate Evacuations

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has issued urgent evacuation orders to residents in 25 northern Israeli settlements, declaring them “legitimate military targets.” The Iran-backed militant group delivered the message in a video shared via its Telegram channel, warning locals that these areas have become strategic locations for the deployment of Israeli military forces engaged in strikes on Lebanon.

“You are requested to evacuate immediately. Your settlements have become a place for the deployment and stability of enemy military forces that are attacking Lebanon. As a result, they have become legitimate military targets for the air and missile power of the Islamic resistance,” Hezbollah announced.

This declaration followed a recent retaliatory “precision strike” by Israel on Iranian targets, with Israeli forces continuing heavy bombardments across southern Lebanon. Israel’s operations have resulted in high-ranking Hezbollah casualties, reportedly including Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader. The targeted Israeli settlements include towns such as Kiryat Shmona, Yasod HaMa’ala, Ayelet HaShachar, and Kfar Vradim, according to reports by the Turkish news outlet Anadolu.

Cross-border confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified in recent weeks, especially after Hezbollah launched a new front following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which shocked Tel Aviv. These developments escalated further when Israel launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon on October 1.

In a fresh move on Saturday, Hezbollah announced it had launched a rocket attack on an Israeli intelligence base near Safed, calling it Israel’s “intelligence headquarters for the northern region.” The group also claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli air base south of Tel Aviv, marking its first strike on this facility.

The ongoing exchanges underline the growing volatility in West Asia, with both parties now operating under increasingly hostile terms. The escalating situation raises further concerns about a broader regional conflict amid the backdrop of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.