Israel-Lebanon conflict: Lebanon carries out new evacuations despite Israel saying it has ‘no territorial ambitions’

Israeli soldiers drive through southern Lebanon, seen from northern Israel. (Associated Press)

Israel said on Tuesday it was not seeking to occupy Lebanese territory as its military issued a series of new evacuation warnings for towns and villages in the war-torn south. Israel keeps fighting Hezbollah Troops have been sent to southern Lebanon to fight Iran-backed militant groups since early March, where violence has continued despite a shaky April 17 ceasefire. “Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. Our presence … has only one purpose: to protect our citizens,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told a news conference. As the military takes action against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said: “No country wants to live with a gun to its head.”