Israel warns Lebanese border towns to evacuate amid localized ground raids – National [Video]

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 …