Israel has declared all areas south of Lebanon's Zahrani River 'combat zones' and urged residents to evacuate ahead of strikes against Hezbollah. The warning comes as Israel's military launched broad raids on the country's south and east, and as Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces beyond an Israeli-declared 'yellow line' in the south.
The Israeli military said it would act 'with great force' against Hezbollah, and warned residents to evacuate to the north of the Zahrani River. Talks are expected on Friday between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations at the Pentagon, as are a new round of direct negotiations next week aimed at ending the hostilities.
Lebanon's army also said Wednesday that one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike in south Lebanon. Israel's army chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir said on Wednesday that 'we are intensifying our operations in order to strike ever more severe blows to the Hezbollah organisation'.
Hezbollah said its fighters 'clashed with the enemy forces at point-blank range' in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, just beyond the Israeli-declared 'yellow line' in south Lebanon where its troops have been operating.
