Israel is intensifying precision strikes at Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa area to dismantle terrorist infrastructure but is not at war with the Lebanese people.
The IDF has targeted weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory.
Israeli defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Hezbollah towards Tel Aviv yesterday. The terror group claimed it had targeted Mossad’s headquarters.
Israeli authorities confirmed “significant property damage” from missile attacks around Safed. There are no reported injuries. Bomb disposal units and firefighters have been securing sites.
Air-raid sirens have sounded across northern and central Israel including in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Netanya. The Home Front command issued safety measures about being close to shelters and limited gatherings.
The escalation follows Hezbollah firing of rockets toward Israeli civilians since the war with Hamas began almost a year ago.
World leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, have called for restraint and a de-escalation at the Lebanon-Israel border to avoid a wider war in the region.
Israeli leaders, however, have set their position to bring calm to northern Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the Assembly in New York today.
He will then hold consultations to discuss the continuation of attacks in Lebanon.
Netanyahu, speaking at an intelligence base where he received a military briefing on Tuesday, gave his clearest warning about Israel’s stance towards the terror group.
“We will continue to strike Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu had a message for the Lebanese people, thousands are fleeing targeted areas.
“Our fight is not with you, it is with Hezbollah,” he said. “Nasrallah is leading you to the brink of disaster. I told you yesterday to leave homes where he has placed missiles in your living rooms and rockets in your garages. Anyone with a missile in their living room won’t have a home. He is putting your country at risk. Free yourselves from Hezbollah’s grip, for your own sake.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Israel would accelerate offensive actions and reinforce military units in response to the security situation. Hezbollah should not be given any respite, he added.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the IDF would continue attacks at Hezbollah targets to ensure the “safe return” of Israel’s northern residents to their homes.
“Hezbollah today is not what it was a week ago,” he told 7th Armored Brigade and 202nd Paratroopers Battalion troops during a visit to a military exercise. “It has suffered severe blows to its command, personnel and weaponry. We have more strikes ready. We know what to do and how to execute it.”
Gallant added: “We must be fully prepared to give the order to move forward when necessary. It’s extremely important.”
Israel is prepared for a long or short operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a press briefing: “We strive that the operation is as short as possible, that is why we are striking with huge power, thus we have to be prepared for it to take time. Our mission in the end is to achieve the war goals and bring the residents of the north back to their homes, and we have to stand by our mission.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders that Lebanon was “on the brink” and warned that the world was approaching a “powder keg” situation with catastrophic consequences.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded that if Hezbollah continued its aggression, Lebanon could face destruction similar to Gaza. Cohen criticised ongoing international support for terrorist organisations.
The IDF confirmed it had eliminated Hezbollah commander Muhammad Qubaisi, who headed missile and rocket systems in an airstrike in Beirut.
The IDF released data on operations at the Lebanese border earlier this week.
A spokesman said. “Fighter squadrons and drones have conducted nearly 3,000 flight hours over Lebanon. More than 1,500 Hezbollah targets, including over 1,000 types of weaponry, have been struck in 200 different areas.”
Biden told the Assembly that since the 10/7 terror attack “too many” people at the Israeli-Lebanon border remain displaced. “A full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” he said.
Starmer, who has told British nationals to leave Lebanon immediately, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a return of the Israeli hostages and a recommitment to the two-state solution at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday. He then travelled to the General Assembly to meet world leaders.
Numerous airlines including British Airways, Wizz Air, Iberia and Lufthansa Airlines cancelled flights to and from Israel and Lebanon due to escalating tensions, but according to Israel Airports Authority, over 51,000 passengers on 310 international flights departed Ben Gurion on Tuesday.
Delta have extended cancellations until December 25. United Airlines and Air Canada has no timeline for flights. American Airlines returns March 2025, EasyJet a month later.
