Israel warns Lebanese border towns to evacuate amid ‘localized ground raids’

The Israeli military on Tuesday warned people to evacuate nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities hours after launching what it said was a limited ground incursion against the Hezbollah militant group. Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered but said it was ready to battle them.

The military advised people to evacuate north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of a U.N.-declared zone that was intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.

“You must immediately head north of the Awali River to save yourselves, and leave your houses immediately,” said the statement posted by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, on the platform X.

Israel’s warning suggests push deeper into Lebanon.

The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon as it presses ahead with a rapidly escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

Israeli troops were so far within walking distance of the border, focused on villages hundreds of meters (yards) from Israel, an Israeli military official said earlier, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations. The official said there had been no clashes yet with Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah denied that Israeli troops had entered Lebanon but said its fighters are ready if they do.

In its first statement since Israel announced the start of ground operations, Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif dismissed what he said were “false claims” of an Israeli incursion. He said Hezbollah is