Jerusalem, Sep 23 (EFE).- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday called on Israeli civilians to remain calm and follow the army’s safety orders amid escalating cross-border fire with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.<\/p>
\u201cAt this new stage of the war – our success depends on the behavior of the public. There are days ahead of us when the public will have to show composure,\u201d Gallant said during a meeting to assess the security situation in the north region.<\/p>
He urged residents in northern Israel to adhere strictly to security guidelines, take shelter when necessary, and relocate to safer areas if instructed. “This saves lives,” Gallant emphasized.<\/p>
“In light of the security developments on the northern front, (\u2026) the resilience of Israel’s citizens and their adherence to the Home Front Command’s instructions are key components to our success in our missions.”<\/p>
On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ramped up attacks against Hezbollah, carrying out heavy bombings in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.<\/p>
Israeli authorities also sent warnings to Lebanese citizens, urging them to stay away from all buildings used by Hezbollah members amid the ongoing strikes.<\/p>
Despite the escalation, the IDF’s safety directives for Israeli civilians remain unchanged.<\/p>
Current restrictions are limited to northern Israel, where outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people and indoor gatherings exceeding 100 are prohibited. Schools and beaches are closed, and workplaces are operating near bomb shelters.<\/p>
The IDF said that, for now, Israel is focusing on an aerial bombing campaign against Hezbollah, with no troop mobilizations planned at this time.<\/p>
The IDF has accused Hezbollah of using civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon to store missiles, rockets, and drones, stressing that its ongoing attacks are aimed at “degrading” Hezbollah’s attacking capabilities.<\/p>
Gallant said that Hezbollah is “starting to feel” the strength of Israel’s offensive capabilities after a week of attacks in Lebanon that have claimed the lives of dozens of its fighters.<\/p>
\u201cThe past week has been the most difficult in the history of Hezbollah\u2019s existence. We will continue defending the State of Israel,\u201d Gallant said on x, formerly Twitter.<\/p>
He said that Israel’s military operations will continue until the 60,000 northern residents displaced by Hezbollah attacks can safely return to their homes.<\/p>
\u201cWe will continue our operations until the goal is achieved \u2013 returning the residents of the north to their homes in safety,” Gallant added. EFE <\/p>
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