Preparing For New Attacks, Israeli Military Warns Lebanese Refugees Not To Return Home

Impact of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon Hebbariyeh/DOK PHOTO: OCHA/Lebanon

JAKARTA - The Israeli military warned refugees in southern Lebanon not to return to their homes. Israel is preparing a new attack targeting the militant group Hezbollah.

Residents of villages in southern Lebanon began their escape on Monday, September 23, after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) warned civilians to leave the area where Hezbollah operates, such as areas used to store weapons.

All Lebanese villagers who fled their homes for their own safety due to the presence of a weapon or terrorist element Hezbollah, the IDF raid continued, "A spokesman for the Arabic-speaking IDF, Avichay Adraee in a post on X reported by CNN, Wednesday, September 25.

"For your safety, don't return to your home until further notice," added Adraee.

An estimated half a million people have fled in Lebanon, a day after an Israeli attack killed more than 500 people across the country.

The United Nations Refugee Agency warned the number of refugees in Lebanon would continue to rise. UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh described the situation in the country as very worrying and very chaotic.

Even before this latest escalation, more than 100,000 people had fled the southern region of Lebanon and UNHCR had intervened to support them, he said.

"It happened more than a month ago," added Saltmarsh.

Last week, Israel made the return of residents to northern Israel safe for war after nearly a year of cross-border shootout with Hezbollah.