The Iranian-backed Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah issued an urgent evacuation directive Saturday targeting residents of Kiryat Shmona, an Israeli border city located just kilometers from Lebanon.
The group’s statement provided no details about potential military actions it might take against the community situated so close to the international boundary.
“Warning. All residents of Kiryat Shmona are asked to evacuate immediately. Head south,” the organization declared in its official statement.
The escalation follows Lebanon’s entry into the expanding regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran this past Monday. Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks against Israeli targets, prompting Israel to conduct extensive retaliatory strikes throughout southern and eastern Lebanon, including areas near the capital Beirut.
Many thousands of northern Israeli residents had previously abandoned their communities when the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in 2023, as Hezbollah commenced launching various projectiles at settlements in the region.
These displaced families returned to their homes following a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024. Despite the current tensions, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has consistently encouraged northern residents to stay put this week, promising military protection for their communities.
