Extract from ABC News
An Israeli military vehicle drives in Lebanon as Israel prepares to attack targets there. (Reuters: Shir Torem)
In short:
The ceasefire appears to be shattered as Israel is demanding residents evacuate some villages north of Lebanon's Litani River.
Israel claims there are Hezbollah targets in the area.
What's next?
Israel's air force has begun its bombardment on the towns and villages.
Israel has demanded residents of seven villages in southern Lebanon leave ahead of strikes against claimed Hezbollah targets in the area, as a ceasefire in the country appears to be shattered.
The towns north of the Litani River are in the zone in southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli troops, who have continued military operations despite the ceasefire.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen from over the border in northern Israel, as the Israeli air force began its bombardment of towns and villages.
Israel's "evacuation warning", effectively forcing the displacement of the population, came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his weekly cabinet meeting and suggested his country's actions came with the backing of the United States.
"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are essentially disintegrating the ceasefire," Mr Netanyahu said.
"Therefore, as far as we are concerned, what obligates us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, and the security of our communities.
"We are acting vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and incidentally, with Lebanon as well — this means freedom of action, not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but to thwart immediate threats and also to neutralise emerging threats."
Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israeli forces to step up attacks on Hezbollah once the peace talks were called off. (AP: Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File)
Soon after the strikes began, warning sirens rang out in northern Israel after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said three drones were detected.
Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli troops occupying parts of southern Lebanon, and over the border in northern Israel, were a legitimate response to Israel ceasefire violations, which would be met with resistance.
Hezbollah criticises Lebanon over peace talks
Late last week, the US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon would be extended by another three weeks as officials representing the Israeli and Lebanese governments met for a second round of peace talks in Washington DC.
The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah was not a party to the talks and has criticised the Lebanese state for even pursuing negotiations.
Hezbollah had launched rockets and drones at northern Israel in early March in solidarity with Iran, days after the US and Israel started striking the regime in Tehran.
Over seven weeks, more than 2,100 people were killed according to Lebanese health authorities, with hundreds of civilians including women and children killed in Israeli strikes.
That is despite Israel insisting Hezbollah is its target.
Among those killed are a number of journalists, including Al-Akhbar correspondent Amal Khalil.
Thousands gather for journalist's funeral.
Lebanon's prime minister has labelled attacks which killed her and injured a colleague as war crimes, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting the journalists and blocking rescue crews from reaching them — claims Israel has denied.
The uneasy ceasefire in Lebanon came as a result of pressure from the United States, rattled by the high civilian death toll from Israeli strikes.
On one day, more than 300 people were killed after the IDF hit 100 different sites in a 10 minute window, including densely populated parts of the capital Beirut.
Many areas were hit with no prior warning.
Israel claimed after the attacks that it had killed 250 Hezbollah terrorists, but only provided names and information for a small number of them.
Since the truce was announced 10 days ago, Israeli forces have continued to occupy land in southern Lebanon seized during its ground invasion — labelling it as a "security buffer" with northern Israel.
ABC/ Wires
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