Israel Orders Evacuation of Seven South Lebanon Towns North of Litani River

Israel issued new forced evacuation notices for areas in southern Lebanon, ordering residents of seven towns north of the Litani River to leave, according to Al Jazeera.

The towns lie beyond Israel’s so-called “buffer zone,” described as an area stretching roughly 10km (6 miles) north of the border inside southern Lebanon where Israeli forces remain.

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Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli military spokesperson said on X that Hezbollah was violating the ceasefire and that Israel would act against it, telling residents to head north and west.

The Guardian similarly described Israel’s warning to residents to leave seven towns beyond the “buffer zone” it occupied before the ceasefire, and said the towns are north of the Litani River.

The BBC also said Israel’s military repeated the warning on Sunday, telling people to leave seven towns beyond the “buffer zone.”

In the same reporting, Hezbollah rejected the allegations and said its continued attacks are a “legitimate response to the enemy’s persistent violations of the ceasefire,” which it claims have exceeded 500 incidents.

Al Jazeera added that its correspondent in Tyre, Heidi Pett, said “there have been multiple airstrikes across south Lebanon” on Sunday, with many people fleeing to the towns of Sidon and Tyre.

The evacuation orders came as Israel and Hezbollah traded accusations over ceasefire violations, with the US-mediated ceasefire described as starting on April 16 and extended to mid-May.

Al Jazeera said the US-mediated ceasefire “has brought a significant reduction in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah,” while both sides continued to fire and traded blame over breaches.

Al Jazeera

The Guardian described the ceasefire as starting on 16 April and extended to mid-May, and said Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that “Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” adding that Israel “act[s] vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and also, by the way, with Lebanon.”

Hezbollah, in turn, said it would not cease attacks on Israeli troops inside Lebanon and on towns in northern Israel as long as Israel continued its “ceasefire violations,” according to the Guardian.

Al Jazeera reported that Hezbollah said it shouldn’t be linked to a ceasefire that it didn’t approve, adding that it had “no say or position,” and that it would not “place out bets on a failed diplomacy that has proven its ineffectiveness.”

Netanyahu’s position was echoed by other outlets: the BBC reported that Netanyahu ordered his military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets” in Lebanon, and said the directive came after at least six people were killed in strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday.

In parallel, Anadolu reported that Israel began attacks on what it called Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region and the country’s south, marking a new violation of a temporary ceasefire, and said a 10-day ceasefire was declared on April 17 though Tel Aviv repeatedly violated it.

Sunday brought what multiple outlets described as the deadliest day since the ceasefire began, with Lebanon’s health ministry reporting Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 others.

The Guardian said Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the dead on Sunday included “two women and two children,” and added that 37 other people were wounded, while Israel said one of its soldiers was also killed.

The BBC similarly reported that Netanyahu’s directive followed “at least six people were killed in strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday,” and recounted that Israeli strikes on a truck and a motorbike in Yohmor al-Shaqeef in the Nabatieh district killed four people, while another attack on Safad al-Battikh in the Bint Jbeil district killed two people and injured 17.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s army said a 19-year-old soldier, Sergeant Idan Fooks, was killed “during combat” in southern Lebanon, while five others were injured.

Al Jazeera also said since the war renewed between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, at least 2,509 people have been killed and 7,755 wounded by Israeli attacks, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The Guardian provided additional breakdowns from Lebanon’s health ministry, saying the toll includes 277 women, 177 children and 100 medics, and that the ministry does not otherwise distinguish between militants and civilians.

In addition to the casualty reporting, Al Jazeera said Hezbollah attacked Israeli troops inside Lebanon and “the rescue force that came to evacuate them,” targeting a newly established Israeli artillery position in Biyyada with a swarm of drones.

The escalation was accompanied by direct statements from Israel’s leadership and Hezbollah, as well as responses from Lebanon’s political figures.

Al Jazeera quoted Netanyahu saying during a weekly cabinet meeting, “It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” and also cited him saying, “From our perspective, what obliges us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, the security of our communities,” in a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Anadolu

The Guardian reported Netanyahu’s Sunday remarks in similar terms, quoting him as saying “Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” and adding “we act vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and also, by the way, with Lebanon.”

Hezbollah’s leadership rejected the framing and threatened to continue attacks, with the Guardian saying Hezbollah said it would not cease its attacks on Israeli troops inside Lebanon and on towns in northern Israel as long as Israel continued its “ceasefire violations.”

Al Jazeera reported Hezbollah’s statement on Telegram that it had “no say or position” in a ceasefire it didn’t approve and that it would not “place out bets on a failed diplomacy that has proven its ineffectiveness.”

Beyond the battlefield statements, France 24 reported that Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun hit back at Hezbollah over criticism of Israel talks, saying direct negotiations aimed to end the war and that those who dragged Lebanon to war were committing “treason.”

France 24 quoted Aoun saying, “My goal is to reach an end to the state of war with Israel, similar to the armistice agreement” of 1949, and also quoted Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem calling the talks a “grave sin” and saying, “We categorically reject direct negotiations with Israel, and those in power should know that their actions will not benefit Lebanon or themselves.”

The reporting portrays a ceasefire that remains in force but is under strain, with Israel reserving the right to respond to “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” and continuing strikes almost every day.

“Israeli army launches fresh attacks in Lebanon in new ceasefire violation Army claims attacks target Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, Bekaa region Abdel Ra'ouf Arnaout 27 April 2026•Update: 27 April 2026 JERUSALEM The Israeli army said Monday it has begun attacks on what it called Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa region and the country’s south, marking a new violation of a temporary ceasefire”

Anadolu

Al Jazeera said under the terms of the truce, Israel reserves the right to respond to “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” and has been striking what it says are Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon almost every day.

Anadolu Ajansı

The Guardian similarly said Israeli troops are operating inside what they have labelled a “yellow line,” a ribbon of Lebanese territory around 10km deep along the border where residents have been warned not to return, and it said Israel repeated the warning on Sunday to leave seven towns beyond the “buffer zone.”

The BBC described how the agreement reduced fire rather than a complete halt and said the truce was extended on Thursday after talks between envoys in Washington, while Netanyahu ordered “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets” after Saturday’s strikes.

In parallel, Anadolu said Israel’s attacks marked a new violation of a temporary ceasefire and cited that US President Donald Trump said Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend the truce by three weeks after talks in Washington.

The stakes are also reflected in the scale of displacement and the ongoing casualty totals: Anadolu said more than 2,500 people have been killed and over 1.6 million displaced by Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanese official figures.

Finally, France 24 reported that Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun said his goal was to reach an end to the state of war with Israel “similar to the armistice agreement” of 1949, while Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said direct negotiations with Israel were a “grave sin,” underscoring how political disagreement could complicate any attempt to stabilize the ceasefire.