Israel evacuates 14 more settlements near border with Lebanon
An Israeli soldier holds the remnants of a shell following the Hamas attack in Kissufim. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Israel is evacuating more villages in the north of the country in light of escalating hostilities with Hezbollah militants. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the evacuation of 14 more settlements, his office said on Sunday. A week ago, Israel declared a 4-kilometre closed military zone in the border area with Lebanon. Israel has pounded the Hamas-run Gaza Strip with airstrikes after the October 7 massacres in southern Israeli border towns. Since then, there have also been exchanges of fire on the border between Israel and Lebanon, with deaths resulting on both sides. Israel and the United...