Evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli occupation army to villages across southern Lebanon reflect what military expert Brigadier General Elias Hanna describes as a deliberate strategy of punitive deterrence targeting the social environment supporting Hezbollah.
These evacuation orders are no longer confined to areas south of the Litani River. They have expanded into key towns and villages in Baalbek, Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas extending to the Zahrani River.
According to analysis presented by Abdel Qader Arada on Al Jazeera, the evacuations have effectively become part of an operational strategy based on forced displacement. The orders are no longer limited to individual villages and now extend to entire districts, including Tyre and Bint Jbeil.
Earlier today, the Israeli army carried out strikes across several regions and issued what it described as urgent evacuation warnings affecting 12 villages. Residents were ordered to move at least 1,000 metres away into open areas under claims that the attacks targeted “Hezbollah infrastructure”.
The warnings covered the villages of Toura, Al Bazourieh, Tayr Debba, Al Shaabiya and Burj Al Shimali in the Tyre district, alongside Nabatieh Al Tahta, Habboush, Ain Qana, Jibsheet and Houmine El Faouqa in the Nabatieh district. Additional warnings were issued for Kfar Houneh in Jezzine and Loubaya in the western Bekaa.
The escalation comes amid continuing Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement announced on 17 April, which was extended on Friday for an additional 45 days until early July.
The “Doctrine of Rubble”
In his analysis, Elias Hanna said these operations form part of Israel’s efforts to deepen what it calls the “yellow line”, a buffer zone intended to shield northern Israeli settlements from Hezbollah attacks.
However, Hezbollah introduced what Hanna described as a strategic shift in the conflict through the use of fibre optic guided drones capable of reaching northern Israel. According to the military analyst, this development pushed Israel to attempt expanding the buffer zone up to 10 kilometres from the border.
Because Hezbollah has continued operating inside these areas, Israel has reportedly adopted what one Israeli military analyst referred to as the “Doctrine of Rubble”.
Hanna said the doctrine is based on the systematic destruction of everything within targeted zones, in what Lebanese Environment Minister Tamara Elzein described as “environmental genocide”.
According to Hanna, Israel’s campaign goes beyond forced displacement and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. He said Israeli forces are also using white phosphorus and toxic materials to destroy agricultural land, groundwater, marine life and livestock.
Southern Lebanon contributes between 25 and 30 per cent of Lebanon’s agricultural production, Hanna noted, adding that Israel is also targeting the region’s industrial backbone.
Lebanon’s Environment Ministry has reportedly estimated preliminary losses at approximately $25 billion.
Continuing Military Operations
On Tuesday, five people were wounded in an Israeli strike targeting the town of Maarakeh in the Marjayoun district, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Additional injuries were reported after an Israeli drone targeted the town of Al Majadel in Tyre district in southern Lebanon.
Al Jazeera correspondents in Lebanon also reported a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting the towns of Qsaybeh, Kfarraman, Zoutar El Sharqiyeh, Zabqine near Tyre, Debbine, Frun, Kfarsir and Majdal Selm, alongside two separate strikes on the town of Kafra in southern Lebanon.
In response, Hezbollah announced several military operations involving suicide drones. According to the group’s statement, the attacks targeted and destroyed an Iron Dome platform at the Jal Al Alam site.
The group also announced strikes targeting the Ras Naqoura naval site and gatherings of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles west of the village of Arab Al Aramsheh.
