Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency on Monday, following intensified airstrikes by the Israeli military on Lebanon.
The move comes as the conflict with Hezbollah escalates, raising concerns of further instability in the region. Gallant’s declaration allows the Israeli military to impose restrictions on gatherings and close sites deemed vulnerable to attacks.
“The declaration gives us the flexibility to protect civilians more effectively,” Gallant stated. “We are in a critical period, and these measures are essential to maintaining security.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched over 100 jets to strike Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, thwarting what they described as a “much larger attack” aimed primarily at northern Israel.
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The military claimed that its pre-emptive strikes destroyed thousands of rocket launcher barrels. Despite this, Hezbollah managed to fire hundreds of rockets and drones into Israel, with missile trails visible across the sky early Sunday morning. While three deaths were confirmed in Lebanon, Israel reported no fatalities.
Defense analysts, like Alon Ben-David, view the situation as dangerously close to spiraling out of control. “This exchange of fire shows how quickly events can escalate,” Ben-David noted.
“The fact that Israel had to carry out such a large-scale operation indicates the severity of the threat from Hezbollah.”
Hezbollah, however, dismissed Israel’s claims of preventing a larger attack, stating that its planned drone strikes proceeded and that further retaliation for the killing of its commander Shukr was still to come.
Middle East expert Lina Khatib warned that “this tit-for-tat violence could lead to broader regional consequences, potentially drawing in other players.”
As the conflict continues, both sides remain on high alert, with Israeli citizens bracing for further disruptions and potential retaliation from Hezbollah.