Security and military news section 04-10-2024

“Israel’s” evacuation orders in Lebanon, supposedly aimed at protecting civilians, are widely seen as ethnic cleansing tactics, forcing residents to flee under chaotic, vague warnings.

For over a week, the people of Lebanon have been living in constant fear, glued to their phones each night, awaiting the latest evacuation orders from the Israeli occupation forces’ Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.

Not because they’re avid followers of his statements, but because these announcements determine if their homes will be bombed that night. This indiscriminate ritual has turned into a nightly horror, where civilians anxiously scroll through social media, hoping that their house isn’t the next target.

The Israeli military has issued countless evacuation orders across Lebanon, sometimes up to six in a mere two hours. At times, these warnings specify exact locations, but increasingly, they include vague maps covering entire neighborhoods—essentially marking entire civilian areas for indiscriminate bombardment. “Israel” often claims that Hezbollah operates in these zones, but the victims of these strikes are predominantly civilians with no safe place to go, or those who have chosen not to abandon their homes.

Two dozen villages forced to flee

On October 2nd, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) ordered civilians in two dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, citing Hezbollah’s activities in the area.

“Hezbollah’s activity forces the IDF to act against it. The IDF does not wish to harm you,” Avichay Adraee announced via X. “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately. Anyone near Hezbollah operatives, their facilities, or their weapons puts themselves at risk.”

These orders are typically posted on social media platforms, platforms to which many civilians—especially those without reliable internet connection—may not even have access. Furthermore, the time given for evacuation is alarmingly short, often only 30 minutes or less. In a blatant display of disregard for human life, the Israeli military expects entire villages to evacuate with little to no time to prepare, while offering no assurance of safety in the areas they flee to.

On October 2nd, the Israeli military issued seven evacuation orders within a span of 90 minutes. Some of these orders were for the same area, demonstrating not only chaos but also the careless repetition of warnings as a form of psychological warfare.

Can we trust ‘Israel’s’ evacuation orders? 

Source: Al Mayadeen English