BEIRUT/CAIRO – Israel has issued additional evacuation orders and targeted a new site in northern Lebanon, marking a surge in its conflict with Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran, which has also resulted in the wounding of a third UN peacekeeper.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli airstrikes across three regions in Lebanon have led to at least 15 fatalities and 37 injuries. One of the hit locations was Deir Billa in northern Lebanon, previously untouched by such attacks.

The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched nearly 320 projectiles into Israeli territory on Saturday, without sharing additional details, and declared some areas near northern Israeli towns off-limits to the public.

On the same day, Israel directed residents of 23 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River, which flows from the western Bekaa Valley to the Mediterranean Sea.

This evacuation order was communicated through a military statement, highlighting villages in southern Lebanon that have frequently been targeted by Israeli operations, many of which are now almost abandoned.

Israeli military officials contend that these evacuations are essential for the protection of residents due to heightened activities by Hezbollah, claiming the group is utilizing locations to hide weapons and launch attacks against Israel.

Hezbollah refutes allegations of hiding weapons among civilians.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed “deep concern” in a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding reports of Israeli forces firing on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon recently, urging for the safety of peacekeepers and the Lebanese military, as reported by the Pentagon.

Austin underscored the importance of shifting from military actions in Lebanon to diplomatic efforts as soon as possible, according to the Pentagon’s statement.

The Lebanese health ministry announced on social media that five hospitals experienced damage due to Israeli airstrikes in the eastern city of Baalbek and the Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military has not responded to these claims, and Reuters has been unable to independently verify the situation regarding the hospitals.

The Israeli military alleged on Saturday that Hezbollah has been using ambulances to transport fighters and weapons and stated that it would take any required measures. However, Reuters could not verify these claims.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported last week that due to heavy airstrikes, they were compelled to shut down their clinic in a southern Beirut suburb and momentarily halt operations in another northern location.

MSF also stated that in the past two weeks, Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 paramedics and significantly hampered access to medical services throughout the nation.

The Israeli military reported that it has struck around 200 targets in Lebanon through artillery and airstrikes, claiming the deaths of roughly 50 Hezbollah fighters and the destruction of numerous weapon storage facilities.

SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE

On Friday, another UNIFIL member was injured by gunfire, with the organization confirming on Saturday that he was stable after surgery. UNIFIL also noted that their position in the southern town of Ramyah suffered substantial damage due to nearby explosions, without specifying the attacker.

Two UN peacekeepers were injured by an Israeli strike near their observation tower in southern Lebanon on Friday, prompting global condemnation from the United Nations and various nations.

A coalition of 34 countries involved in the UNIFIL mission released a joint statement denouncing the recent assaults on the peacekeeper base and calling for all parties to ensure their safety.

Hezbollah claimed to have attacked areas surrounding Tel Aviv with a swarm of drones on Friday, though without providing specific details. Israel stated that no casualties occurred when its military detected and intercepted two drones coming from Lebanon.

The confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah militants began a year ago when the Iran-aligned group started firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas, coinciding with the onset of the Gaza war.

Recently, the situation has escalated, with Israel conducting airstrikes in southern Lebanon, targeting areas such as Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, which resulted in the deaths of many senior Hezbollah figures, as well as deploying ground troops across the border.

In response, Hezbollah has been launching rockets further into Israeli territory.

According to the Lebanese government, since September 23, Israel’s campaign has displaced around 1.2 million residents.

Israel claims that its military operations in Lebanon are aimed at creating safe conditions for the tens of thousands of individuals who fled northern Israel due to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks to return home.

By Friday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the death toll had risen to 2,255 since the start of the conflict.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that the number of displaced Lebanese has now surpassed that of the last significant conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, where approximately 1 million people were forced to leave their homes.