Israel flew leaflets over a Lebanon border village today urging inhabitants to flee, state-run media said, but Israel's military informed AFP that a brigade took the initiative without permission.
It was the first time Israelis had instructed south Lebanon citizens to evacuate in 11 months of cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel over the Gaza conflict, which was sparked by Hezbollah ally Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.
The escalation of tensions in the region has raised concerns among international observers. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has expressed deep worry over the potential for further civilian displacement and the risk of a wider conflict. A spokesperson for UNIFIL stated, "We are closely monitoring the situation and urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent any further escalation that could have devastating consequences for civilians on both sides of the border."
The Israeli adversary dropped leaflets over Wazzani, a southern border community, urging residents to flee, according to the official National News Agency. Wazzani Mayor Ahmed al-Mohammed sent AFP a photo of the pamphlets, which featured a map of the region with evacuation zones highlighted in red.
The leaflet said in Arabic: To all residents and refugees residing near the camps, Hezbollah is firing from your region. You must immediately leave your homes and travel north of the Khiam region before 4 p.m. Do not return to this location until the fighting has ended.
It went on to say that anyone who remained in this location beyond this time would be considered terrorists.
This development has sparked a humanitarian crisis, with local aid organizations scrambling to provide assistance to those forced to leave their homes. The Lebanese Red Cross has set up temporary shelters in nearby towns, but resources are stretched thin. "We are doing our best to accommodate the displaced, but we urgently need more support from the international community," said a Red Cross official who wished to remain anonymous.
Wazzani is an agricultural location where Syrians are frequently employed to cultivate the land. When asked about the event, an Israeli military spokeswoman stated that the leaflets were dropped by drone at an area from which rockets were fired into northern Israel.
This was an initiative of the 769th Brigade; it was not accepted by the northern command. An investigation has been launched, she noted. A videographer working with AFP witnessed Syrian families preparing to escape their improvised tents, with young children carrying items in plastic bags. According to the cameraman, other families fled to an area a few kilometers north, where they observed children and women unload a truck full of beds. Some Syrian workers are leaving the neighborhood. But as for us, we are farmers with livestock. "We cannot leave our land," Mayor Mohammed stated.
The economic impact of this conflict on the region's agricultural sector is becoming increasingly apparent. Local farmers are facing significant losses as they are forced to abandon their crops and livestock. Agricultural experts warn that the long-term consequences could be severe, potentially leading to food shortages and price hikes in the coming months. "This is not just a security issue, but an economic one that could have far-reaching effects on the entire country," explained Dr. Nadia Khalil, an economist at the American University of Beirut.
Israeli aircraft distribute leaflets in the Gaza Strip on a regular basis, advising inhabitants to flee before an attack. Yesterday, Hezbollah's second-in-command, Naim Qassem, warned that Israel's all-out war to return 100,000 displaced persons to their homes along the Lebanon border would displace hundreds of thousands of Israelis.
According to an AFP calculation, 623 individuals have died in Lebanon as a result of cross-border violence since early October, the majority of them have been fighters. On the Israeli side, including the occupied Golan Heights, authorities have reported the fatalities of at least 24 military and 26 civilians.
The ongoing conflict has also had a significant impact on regional diplomacy. Neighboring countries are growing increasingly concerned about the potential for the conflict to spill over their borders. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi recently called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss the escalating situation. "We cannot stand idly by while the region teeters on the brink of a wider war," Safadi stated in a press conference. Meanwhile, international mediators, including representatives from the United States and European Union, are working behind the scenes to de-escalate tensions and bring both parties back to the negotiating table.
