BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese official media reported on Monday that residents were receiving phone warnings from Israel instructing them to evacuate areas near Hezbollah targets.
This communication follows the Israeli military’s recent announcement of its intent to conduct more “extensive and precise” strikes against Hezbollah, marking the first formal warning to Lebanese civilians since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly a year ago.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) indicated that citizens in Beirut and other regions were receiving landline messages from what they referred to as the “Israeli enemy,” urging immediate evacuation.
Information Minister Ziad Makary’s office confirmed receiving such a call, which contained a recorded message advising evacuation to avoid strikes.
This tactic has been characterized as part of a “psychological war” by the Israeli military. Imad Kreidieh, head of Lebanon’s state telecommunications provider Ogero, explained that the landline network typically blocks communications from Israel, but the country bypasses these restrictions by using the international phone code of a friendly nation.
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The situation highlights the ongoing tension between Israel and Lebanon, as both nations remain in a state of technical war, with communications with Israel strictly forbidden in Lebanon. As tensions rise, the implications for civilian safety and regional stability continue to be of paramount concern.
