Issues evacuation call

The Israeli military yesterday said it would soon strike what it described as Hezbollah military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and warned people in two villages to evacuate immediately.

The army in an X post shared maps identifying buildings in Jbaa and Mahrouna villages, and warned residents that remaining in the area "puts you at risk".

"The (Israeli army) will soon strike military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation across areas in southern Lebanon, in response to Hezbollah's prohibited attempts to rebuild its activities in the area," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said.

"You are located near buildings used by Hezbollah. For your own safety, you must evacuate them immediately," he said.

The warning comes a day after Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades, under a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism. Morgan Ortagus, the US special envoy for Lebanon, also attended.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office described the atmosphere at the talks as "positive", but also made it clear it was "essential" that Hezbollah disarm regardless of any progress in economic cooperation.

Lebanon and Israel agreed a ceasefire in November 2024 to end more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, which broke out after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

But Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite the truce, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure to stop the group from rearming.

Israel has also kept troops in five areas in the south despite the ceasefire's stipulation that it pull out entirely.