![A member of the civil defense force raises the Lebanese flag amid rubble that remains from an Israeli airstrike that wrecked two houses with two blasts, and left three people dead, officials say, in a Shia Muslim enclave of a largely Christian, northern mountainous area, on October 13, 2024 in Deir Billa, Lebanon. [Scott Peterson/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GettyImages-2178265442.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Israeli occupation army yesterday ordered residents of 21 villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes ahead of the planned expansion of its ground assault in the country.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on X: “For your safety, you must immediately evacuate your homes and move north of the Awali River.”
Israel expanded its war on Gaza to include southern Lebanon, launching its largest bombing campaign in the area in nearly 20 years.
As with its attacks on Gaza, officials and soldiers have been recorded making genocidal statements, calling for the creation of ‘Greater Israel’ and stating that southern Lebanon, like Gaza, belongs to Israel. Soldiers have also filmed themselves mocking civilians for had been forced to flee while they destroy their properties in southern Lebanon.
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