- Four Israeli soldiers and two UN peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon clashes
- Israel launched a major ground offensive aiming to occupy areas south of the Litani River
- IDF urged evacuation of several Beqaa Valley villages, directing residents to Qaraoun
Four Israeli soldiers and two UN peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon as Israel issued an "urgent" evacuation warning for several Lebanese villages in the eastern Beqaa Valley.
The Israeli army confirmed the killing of four soldiers and said two others were injured as Israeli troops launched a major ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is fighting back, and during an intense firefight, four Israeli soldiers were killed.
A military statement named three soldiers from the same battalion who "fell during combat," while a separate statement said another soldier, who had not yet been publicly named, died in the same incident.
Israel has made it clear that it intends to capture and occupy areas south of the Litani River and turn them into a security buffer. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army to expand the offensive.
As part of the invasion in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an "urgent" evacuation warning to residents of several villages in the Beqaa Valley.
More than 12 lakh people in Lebanon have been displaced since the outbreak of the war, and the number is expected to rise further.
Residents have been asked to head towards the town of Qaraoun, located around 30 kilometres north of Israel's border.
"Residents of Zellaya, Libbaya, Yohmor al-Beqaa, Sohmor, Qellaya, and Dlafy are instructed to head toward the town of Qaraoun, located around 30 kilometres north of Israel's border. The activities of Hezbollah are forcing the IDF to act forcefully against it in these areas, and we do not intend to harm you," said Israeli army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.
On Sunday, nine health workers and UN peacekeeper personnel were among several people killed in attacks in Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for accountability after a peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon and urged all sides to uphold their obligations under international law and ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it would continue to fight as long as occupation and aggression persist, and claimed its fighters have prevented Israel from capturing areas south of the Litani River.
"Israel has not been able to capture the south of Lebanon so far. The fighting is going on," said Ibrahim Mousvi, MP and head of Hezbollah's parliamentary party.
