The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning for residents of 16 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately. The announcement, made on Wednesday, came ahead of a potential military operation against Hezbollah fighters. According to a report from Jerusalem citing AFP, the warning urged civilians to leave their homes and move to open areas for their safety.

The statement was delivered by Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, who emphasized the need for residents to act swiftly. The military identified the specific border locations affected by the evacuation order. The warning reflects heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where clashes with Hezbollah have previously occurred.

The development follows a series of regional incidents, including reported Israeli strikes in Iran’s Isfahan and Lebanon, as well as missile attacks in Qatar and U.S. directives for non-essential staff to leave Pakistan, indicating a broader regional escalation.