Hezbollah source calls Israeli evacuation leaflets dropped on southern Lebanon ‘psychological warfare’

For the first time since October, Israel dropped leaflets on Sunday morning on a town in the south of Lebanon calling on residents to “evacuate” the area. 

Later in the day, the Israeli military radio carried an explanation for the move from Occupation military officials who attributed the distribution of the leaflets to the unilateral decision of a commander of a regional brigade stationed in northern Israel. 

Leaflets from the Israeli military were distributed over similar areas in recent months warning residents that Hezbollah was using the area to launch attacks, while drones have broadcast anti-Hezbollah messages in border towns.

A Hezbollah source speaking to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity described Sunday’s leaflets as “mere psychological warfare,” noting that the group doesn’t plan to respond militarily or be dragged into open war.

The leaflets were dropped on the villages of Wazzani and Maisat and their surrounding areas, which sit near the UN-imposed Blue Line, which was published in 2000s by the international body to serve as a “withdrawal line” for Israeli occupying forces that had invaded Lebanon in 1982. 

The line remains a point of dispute, as Israel continues to occupy the village of Ghajar, Shebaa Farms and the hills around Kfarchouba and continues to call for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which makes provisions for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon and a restriction on the deployment of troops south of the Litani river to only the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces. Hezbollah has vowed not to cease their operations as long as Israel occupies Lebanon. 

The leaflets dropped on Sunday were addressed to “residents and displaced people in the zone of tents,” referring to the Syrian nationals sheltering in tents in the vicinity, and claimed that Hezbollah was launching missiles from their area. Residents should leave within hours and not return until “the end of the war,” the leaflets read, threatening they would be considered terrorists and their “blood will be shed” if they do not heed the evacuation order.  

The Hezbollah source said that neither the party nor Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri nor any party that supports the resistance wants war with Israel.

Noting that the leaflets “aren’t necessarily news,” the source said that the party is prepared, however, for any reckless actions undertaken by Israeli forces and would respond accordingly.

The Israeli military later denied that it had authorized the distribution of the leaflets and said it would investigate the incident, according to statements carried by the Occupation’s military radio. The military later stated that the commander of a regional brigade stationed in northern Israel used drones to distribute the evacuation orders independently of senior Israeli military commanders in the area, the air force and the political establishment. It repeated, however, the claim that Hezbollah was launching fire from the area. 

Hezbollah and other resistance groups in Lebanon and Israeli forces have been locked in a persistent, low-grade exchange of fire since October 7, with Israel undertaking regular strikes on areas of Lebanon across the south, and the Beqaa and Baalbek governorates, killing 623 people in Lebanon so far, including at least 142 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israeli forces have announced the deaths of 24 Israeli soldiers and 26 civilians so far, while 100,000 Israeli nationals are estimated to have left their homes in the north. 

Four people were injured in Israeli shelling on Odaisseh in Lebanon on Sunday morning, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military also noted it had carried out airstrikes on areas in the Beqaa, Baalbek and on seven separate sites in southern Lebanon on Saturday night. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has faced growing internal criticism for continuing Israel’s war on Gaza and sabotaging ceasefire negotiations, stated on Saturday night that he was working to return Israeli nationals who have left their homes in the north, adding that this would require “a change” in the deployment of Israeli military forces to the north.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, announced it had carried out two attacks on Sunday morning using “diving” drones, one on a military position in Matala and another on a technical structure in Malakiyah.