Israeli Military Orders Evacuation of 11 Lebanese Towns as Hezbollah Deploy Fibre-Optic Drones

The Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for residents of 11 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including Nabatieh, ahead of planned strikes on what it describes as Hezbollah targets.

In a statement released Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it is compelled to act forcefully against the Iranian-backed group, citing violations of the existing ceasefire agreement.

The evacuation order extends to villages north of Lebanon’s Litani River, where Israel has previously established a so-called “yellow line” buffer zone. While Israel maintains its operations aim to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure embedded in civilian areas, Lebanese residents have expressed fears that the expanding zone of Israeli military control is laying the groundwork for a more expansive occupation. Over recent weeks, the IDF has been razing villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border.

New Drone Threat

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has introduced a new weapon into the conflict: small quadcopter drones controlled by ultra-thin cables that can stretch for dozens of kilometres. The low-cost devices are difficult to detect and, unlike conventional drones guided by GPS or radio signals, cannot be jammed.

In the past week alone, two Israeli soldiers and an army contractor have been killed by such drone attacks.

Speaking on the matter, a senior Israeli official said: “A few weeks ago, I ordered an initiative to thwart the drone threat. And today, I will see a progress report on the matter. It will take time, but we are on it. We will continue to ensure Israel’s superiority on all fronts.”

Diplomatic Stalemate

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the United States in April, remains fragile. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Kasim, has opposed direct talks between the two countries, calling them a “sin.” As the diplomatic impasse continues, civilian suffering mounts.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 2,500 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since early March.