Displaced people move north by vehicles from southern Lebanon, in Sidon, Lebanon, on April 26, 2026. The Israeli army on Sunday carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, prompting heavy displacement toward the city of Sidon, the capital of South Governorate, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, April 26 (Xinhua) — The Israeli army on Sunday carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, prompting heavy displacement toward the city of Sidon, the capital of South Governorate, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Israeli forces launched airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting several villages in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh Governorate, the NNA said.
Also on Sunday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of seven Lebanese towns to evacuate their homes, Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed TV reported.
The NNA added that villages south of the Litani River witnessed heavy displacement toward Sidon following the attacks and Israeli warnings. Israeli forces also reportedly dropped leaflets over Al-Mansouri containing a list of villages whose residents were asked to evacuate.
Separately, Hezbollah said it launched two attack drones targeting an Israeli evacuation force and a gathering of Israeli soldiers in a southern Lebanese village.
The violence came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire would be extended by three weeks. ■
