Lebanese Army retreats south

REGION ON EDGE | Israel says hit 70 sites in 24 hours, killed several Hezbollah operatives

Israeli forces held Ali Taher hill for 18 yrs before withdrawing from Lebanon in May 2000. In late May, they captured Crusader-era Beaufort Castle, in their deepest incursion into Lebanon since 2000. 

Beirut: The Lebanese army on Saturday withdrew from a base in the southern village of Kfar Tebnit after Israeli troops advanced nearby, a Lebanese military official said.

The move came after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for about 20 locations, including the southern city of Nabatiyeh and surrounding villages.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported airstrikes on several villages near Nabatiyeh on Saturday. One strike in Deir al-Zahrani killed two people, while Nabatiyeh also came under artillery shelling.

Israel said it struck more than 70 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, including rock­et launchers and buildings used by the Iran-backed gro­up. The Israel Defence Forces said several Hezbollah opera­tives were killed in areas wh­ere its troops were operating.

A senior Lebanese military official said troops left the Kfar Tebnit barracks after Israeli forces entered the area. Israeli troops are believed to be attempting to seize the strategic Ali Taher hill, which overlooks much of Nabatiyeh and key roads linking the city to nearby villages.

Drones downed

US Navy has downed multiple one-way attack drones launched by Iran targeting ships transiting the strait, US Central Command said. US forces intercepted all drones and shipping traffic remained unaffected. It added US forces continue enforcing a blockade against Iran, redirecting 139 compliant vessels and disabling nine non-compliant ships.