IDF Spokesman in Arabic Col. Avihai Adraee appealed to the residents of Baalbek, Ein Bordai and Dors to evacuate their homes.
Since the beginning of the fighting, the IDF has only appealed to the residents of towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate, but now they are telling residents living in central Lebanon, in a major Shiite town, to evacuate.
The message issued by Adraee reads: "An urgent warning to the residents of Baalbek, Ein Bordai and Durres: The IDF will act forcefully against Hezbollah's interests in your city and villages and does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move out of the city and the villages through the following routes: Zahl highway - Baalbek, Nahla - Baalbek road, Elazim road - Baalbek according to what appears on the map. Being near Hezbollah personnel, installations or weapons may expose you to danger."
The IDF's announcement comes in the shadow of the reports about a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
Minister Ron Dermer is expected to meet Foreign Minister Israel Katz to discuss the agreement today. Dermer and Prime Minister will hold also discussion.
Both the Israelis and the US have indicated that Hezbollah is willing to break away from Hamas in order to achieve a cease-fire in Lebanon (not dependent on a ceasefire in Gaza). A deal to end the fighting between the parties may be implemented within a few weeks.