Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a military state of emergency on Sunday after launching airstrikes in Lebanon, reportedly to thwart an imminent large-scale attack by the Shiite group Hezbollah.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry said Gallant had activated a “special situation on the home front,” adding that “this declaration of a state of emergency allows the military to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, such as limiting gatherings and closing locations when relevant.”
The minister also held a call with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in which Gallant confirmed that Israel has launched “precise attacks” against Lebanon to thwart an imminent threat against Israel.
Early Sunday morning, the Israeli Army identified that Hezbollah was preparing to fire missiles and rockets towards Israeli territory, and in response to these threats, the Air Force launched bombings on “terrorist targets in Lebanon.”
Shortly afterwards, authorities announced restrictions across the territory north of Tel Aviv, such as limiting groups of people to 30 people outdoors and 300 indoors or banning swimming on beaches near the border.
Offices and educational institutions can continue to operate as long as they have an air raid shelter nearby.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi directs offensive and defensive operations from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, alongside top leaders of the armed forces.
Since the announcement, air raid sirens have been sounding in the Israeli border area with Lebanon.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service has raised its alert status to the highest level across the country, although it has not yet received any reports of casualties.
Hezbollah sided with Islamist group Hamas in its war against Israel last October, and since then, violence on the border between Israel and Lebanon has escalated to its worst level since the 2006 war.
Adding to this is the fact that Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, has vowed to carry out a large-scale attack against Israel in revenge for the death of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli bombing outside Beirut on July 30.
The exchange of fire on the border has claimed the lives of at least 636 people since October, most of them on the Lebanese side and in the ranks of Hezbollah, which has confirmed 392 casualties.
In total, at least 586 people have died in Lebanon, including more than 124 civilians, while in Israel 49 people have died in the north of the territory: 23 soldiers and 26 civilians, including 12 minors in the attack in the Druze city of Majdal Shams, in the occupied Golan Heights.EFE