Israel Strikes Tyre After Declaring Southern Lebanon 'Combat Zones'

Israel's military has initiated new strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, following an evacuation warning issued to residents. The previous day, Israel designated all areas south of the Zahrani River, approximately 40 kilometers from the border and encompassing Tyre, as "combat zones," urging inhabitants to leave ahead of anticipated attacks against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

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compelled to take forceful action

This broad evacuation order, the first of its kind since a ceasefire on April 17, occurred as many Lebanese were observing the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Early this morning, the Israeli military issued a fresh evacuation notice to residents in parts of Tyre, stating it was "compelled to take forceful action" against Hezbollah. A subsequent statement confirmed strikes targeting the group's infrastructure.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that two separate Israeli airstrikes hit the city and an area to its east, striking a building and igniting a fire in Tyre. The conflict has seen escalating rhetoric, with Israel vowing to intensify operations in Lebanon and Hezbollah reporting clashes with Israeli forces beyond the "yellow line" demarcated by Israel. The Israeli army chief, Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir, stated, "we are intensifying our operations in order to strike ever more severe blows to the Hezbollah organisation."

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we are intensifying our operations in order to strike ever more severe blows to the Hezbollah organisation

Talks are scheduled between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations at the Pentagon, with further direct negotiations aimed at ending the hostilities planned for next week. A Lebanese delegation, led by army operations director Georges Rizkallah, will participate. A military source indicated the delegation's focus will be on advocating for a ceasefire and presenting a plan for state control over weapons and authority throughout the country. Meanwhile, Lebanon's health ministry reported the cumulative death toll since the conflict began on March 2 had risen to 3,269, an increase of 56 from the previous day, following heavy Israeli strikes. The Lebanese army also confirmed the death of one of its soldiers in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.

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emphasise the need for a ceasefire, and will present the army's plan for a state weapons monopoly and the extension of state authority across the country