The Lebanese army says it is evacuating residents who entered the villages of Zoutar, Kfar Tebnit, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Arnoun, because the IDF has not yet withdrawn from those areas and entry has not been authorized. The development follows The Zioneer's earlier report at 16:45 of the army escorting civilians back through Tebnit.
The Lebanese army is now reversing its earlier escort of civilians into southern border villages, announcing an evacuation of residents who entered Zoutar, Kfar Tebnit, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Arnoun. The military’s stated reason, reported by the Lebanese Al-Jadeed channel, is that Israeli forces have not yet withdrawn from those areas and civilian entry has not been authorized.
This follows a sequence of developments in and around Kfar Tebnit reported throughout the afternoon. At 14:14, The Zioneer reported Lebanese residents were still barred from the border zone near the Yellow Line. By 15:25, a Lebanese army escort of civilians into Tebnit was reported; within the same hour, the IDF confirmed firing warning shots and denied any withdrawal from the area. At 16:23, The Zioneer reported IDF fire in Tebnin to block returns. At 16:45, The Zioneer noted the army escorting residents back through Tebnit. At 16:47, it cited Prime Minister Netanyahu saying the IDF retains full freedom of action in southern Lebanon. The army’s new evacuation order, at 17:31, marks the first official Lebanese military statement that entry itself was premature.
As The Zioneer reported on June 15, the Lebanese army had earlier called on residents to slow their return to southern border towns, citing Israeli aerial surveillance. On June 14, a large-scale evacuation from IDF-warned villages was reported. Fighting in the same ridge area has continued for weeks, with IDF ground operations and Hezbollah movement documented since early June.
It remains unverified whether any civilians remain inside the four villages now being evacuated, and whether the Lebanese army’s order will be enforced without friction with residents or with Israeli forces still deployed in the area. No injuries or clashes have been reported with this announcement.
6 developments
- DevelopingIDF fires in Tebnin village to block residents' return, Lebanese reports say
- StrongLebanese Army withdraws from Kfar Tebnit as IDF ground offensive advances
- StrongLebanese army calls on residents to slow return to southern border towns, citing Israeli aerial surveillance
- StrongLebanese media report large-scale evacuation from villages IDF warned to clear
Source and signal
- Internal intake