Several dozen Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers have fled Beirut, Lebanon, over the past 48 hours, fearing that they will be targeted in Israeli strikes, which have increased in frequency in the Lebanese capital, two senior Israeli defense officials and a third source with knowledge of the situation told Axios on Friday.
IRGC personnel in Lebanon will be arrested, Reuters cited the Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos as saying on Thursday.
Military operations by the IRGC will also be banned, and those arrested may be deported, according to Saudi-owned Al Arabiya, which added that the Lebanese cabinet had reportedly decided that Iranians would no longer have visa-free entry to Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also slammed rumors of Lebanon committing a "sin" by "aligning with and implementing Israel's goals" during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Hezbollah warns Israeli residents to evacuate towns within three miles of border
Lebanon's Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 3.11 miles of the border in a message posted on its Telegram channel in Hebrew early on Friday.
"Your military's aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged," Hezbollah said.
Miriam Sela-Eitam and Reuters contributed to this report.
