Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has issued immediate evacuation orders in 25 settlements in northern Israel. The Iran-backed militant group warned residents that these areas are now the group’s “legitimate military targets, Anadolu reported. In a video shared by the group on Telegram, Hezbollah issued the warning to the residents directly.

“You are requested to evacuate immediately. Your settlements have become a place for the deployment and stability of enemy military forces that are attacking Lebanon. As a result, they have become legitimate military targets for the air and missile power of the Islamic resistance,” the group said.

The warning came a day after Israel conducted a retaliatory “precision strike” in Iran. The Jewish nation has been pounding Lebanon for over a month, killing the top brass of Hezbollah, including the militant group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah.

The regions where the evacuation order was been issued

According to Turkish news outlet Anadolu, the Israeli settlements in question included Kiryat Shmona, Yasod HaMa’ala, Ayelet HaShachar, Hatzor HaGalilit, Karmiel, Ma’a lot Tarshiha, Even Menachem, Nahariya, Rosh Pina, Shamir, Sha’al, Miron, Kabri, Abirim, Dalton, Nefat Ziv, Qatzrin, Kfar Hananya, Manot, Beit HaAmik, Kfar Vradim, Harashim, Birya, Kfar Tzvi and Bar Yohai.

For over a year, both Israel and Hezbollah have been involved in cross-border firing since the start of the war in Gaza. Soon after Hamas’ October 7 attack, Hezbollah opened a new front of war with Israel, lauding the Palestinian group for leaving Tel Aviv shocked.

Tensions between the two parties escalated after Israel launched a ground incursion in South Lebanon on October 1. On Saturday, the Lebanese militant group said that it had attacked Israel’s intelligence base near the city of Safed. In a statement, the group said that a rocket salvo” had targeted the Meishar base which it called Israel’s “intelligence headquarters for the northern region.”

During the Saturday attack, the Iran-backed group also stated that it had targeted an Israeli air base south of Tel Aviv, making it its first claimed attack against the facility. (Anadolu Agency)