AFP, Jerusalem

Israel yesterday said it was not seeking to take territory in Lebanon, as its military issued a wave of new evacuation warnings for towns and villages in the battle-scarred south.

“Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. Our presence... serves one purpose: protecting our citizens,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told a news conference.

“No country would be willing to live in such a way with a gun pointed to its head,” he said as the military pressed its operations in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Shortly after a ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect on April 17, Israel declared a so-called “Yellow Line” -- a strip of Lebanese territory around 10 kilometres (six miles) deep along the border within which Israeli troops are operating.

“In a reality where Hezbollah and other terror organisations -- including Palestinian terror groups -- are dismantled, Israel will have no need to maintain its presence in these areas,” he added.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah have both engaged in fighting, trading blame over violations of the fragile truce.

Yesterday’s evacuation warning was aimed at residents in more than a dozen villages and towns, urging them to immediately head northwards.

“Out of concern for your safety, you are required to evacuate your homes immediately and move... towards the Sidon District,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on X.

Shortly afterwards, Lebanon’s state media reported that Israel carried out airstrikes across the south, hitting targets including the named areas.

It also said at least one Israeli demolition operation was taking place in the south.

All the areas listed for evacuation appear to be outside or on the border of the “Yellow Line”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Hezbollah’s rockets and drones remained a key threat requiring ongoing military action.