From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
IDF tells all civilians in southern Lebanon to move north of Litani River, in sweeping evacuation order
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says Lebanese civilians in all of southern Lebanon should evacuate to north of the Litani River, amid the ongoing fighting against Hezbollah.
“The activities of the Hezbollah terror organization force the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately. Anyone located near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or combat equipment is putting their life at risk,” says army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.
“To the residents of southern Lebanon, you must immediately head north of the Litani River. To ensure your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north beyond the Litani River,” he says.
Adraee adds that any movement southward “may put your lives at risk.”
#عاجل ‼️تحذير عاجل إلى سكان جنوب لبنان
????إنّ أنشطة حزب الله الإرهابي تُجبر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بالقوة. جيش الدفاع لا ينوي إلحاق الأذى بكم.
????حرصًا على سلامتكم، عليكم إخلاء منازلكم فورًا. كل من يتواجد بالقرب من عناصر حزب الله أو منشآته أو وسائله القتالية يعرّض حياته للخطر.… pic.twitter.com/4yVqByIonw— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 4, 2026
The last time the IDF issued such a sweeping evacuation in south Lebanon was in October 2024, amid a ground offensive against Hezbollah.
The Times of Israel Community.