Jerusalem, Aug 25 (EFE).- The minister of Israel Defense Forces Yoav Gallant declared a state of military emergency on Sunday after launching bombings in Lebanon, to thwart a imminent large scale attack by part of the Shiite group Hezbollah.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense reported that Gallant has declared a “special situation on the home front,” adding that “this declaration of a state of emergency allows the army to give instructions to the citizens of Israel, such as limiting gatherings and closing places when relevant.”
The minister also held a call with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in which Gallant confirmed that Israel has launched “precise strikes” 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.”
Announcement of restrictions
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.
emergency services and alert status
The Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom has raised its alert status to the highest level across the country. Meanwhile, it has not received any reports of casualties so far.
Hezbollah sided with the Islamist group Hamas in its war against Israel last October. Since then, violence on the border between Israel and Lebanon has been escalating to its worst level since the 2006 war.
In addition, Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, has vowed to carry out a large-scale attack on Israel in revenge for the death of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli airstrike 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 been killed in Lebanon, including more than 124 civilians. Meanwhile, 49 people have been killed in Israel in the north of the country. This includes 23 soldiers and 26 civilians, including 12 minors. This attack took place in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights.
