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| Thousands of people are reported to have begun returning to their homes in Lebanon |
The Israeli military has advised Lebanese citizens against returning to 60 villages in southern Lebanon, three days into a ceasefire following over a year of conflict with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a map showing a large area, several miles deep, where it said residents should not return. The IDF warned that anyone returning to these regions would be putting themselves at risk.
The fighting, which has displaced more than a million Lebanese, primarily from the south, has also caused tens of thousands of Israelis to flee. While the ceasefire went into effect on Wednesday, both Israel and Lebanon have accused each other of violations.
On Thursday, the IDF announced artillery strikes and air raids targeting southern Lebanon. The military claimed it hit suspected Hezbollah weapons facilities and vehicles arriving in certain areas, which it said violated the ceasefire.
Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the truce multiple times and is monitoring the situation closely.
A multinational monitoring group, including representatives from the U.S., France, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was established to oversee compliance with the ceasefire terms.
In his first interview since the ceasefire was declared, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the IDF to launch "an intensive war" if Hezbollah committed a major violation of the ceasefire. He warned that the truce could be short-lived.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the U.S. and France, stipulates that Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army will simultaneously deploy in the region, with no other armed groups allowed in the area. This is to happen within 60 days of the ceasefire.
The area the IDF advised residents not to return to stretches from Mansouri on the coast to Shebaa in the east.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese army echoed Israel's warning, urging residents not to return to areas where Israeli forces had been stationed until they have withdrawn.
The conflict began in early October 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, a day after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people. Hezbollah said its actions were in solidarity with the Palestinians after Israel retaliated with heavy military strikes in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, have killed at least 44,330 Palestinians.
Since the start of the conflict, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire with increasing intensity. The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli strikes had killed at least 3,961 people and injured over 16,500. These numbers do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Hezbollah's attacks have resulted in 31 Israeli soldiers and 45 civilians killed, while 45 Israeli soldiers have died fighting in southern Lebanon.
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