Beirut: In a significant development, Israel dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanon village of Wazzani on Sunday, urging residents to evacuate immediately. This move, reported by state-run media, was later confirmed by the Israeli military, which stated that the action was taken by a brigade without official approval.
This marks the first instance in 11 months of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by Hezbollah ally Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, that Israel has called for an evacuation in south Lebanon.
Leaflets Urge Immediate Evacuation
The leaflets, written in Arabic, warned residents and refugees in the area to leave their homes and head north of the Khiam region by 04:00 pm (1300 GMT). The message was clear: “Anyone present in this area after this time will be considered a terrorist”.
Wazzani Mayor Ahmed al-Mohammed shared images of the leaflets, which included a map highlighting the evacuation zones in red¹. The region is known for its agricultural activities, often employing Syrian workers.
Unauthorized Action by Israeli Brigade
An Israeli military spokeswoman clarified that the leaflets were dropped by drones in response to rockets fired from the area into northern Israel. She emphasized that this was an initiative of the 769 Brigade and was not approved by the Northern Command, prompting an investigation.
Evacuation Efforts Underway
A cameraman working with AFP witnessed Syrian families preparing to leave their makeshift tents, with children carrying belongings in plastic bags. Some families moved a few kilometers north, unloading trucks filled with mattresses¹. However, Mayor Mohammed noted that many local farmers, who also have livestock, are reluctant to leave their land.
Broader Context of the Conflict
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli aircraft frequently drop leaflets urging residents to evacuate before attacks. On Saturday, Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Naim Qassem, warned that an all-out war by Israel aimed at returning 100,000 displaced people to their homes near the Lebanon border would displace “hundreds of thousands” more Israelis.
The ongoing cross-border violence since early October has resulted in 623 deaths in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including at least 141 civilians. On the Israeli side, including the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have reported the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians.
