Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on Monday that airstrikes targeting houses in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has allegedly stored weapons, are imminent. The warning comes as Israel’s defense minister stated that attacks on the Iran-backed armed group would intensify, urging Israelis to remain calm.
Earlier, residents in southern Lebanon reported receiving calls from Lebanese numbers, instructing them to stay at least 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) away from Hezbollah posts. A Reuters reporter in the area confirmed receiving such a call.
In a televised address, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reiterated the warning, saying it was being widely circulated in Arabic across all media platforms in Lebanon. The Israeli military simultaneously launched its most extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah in nearly a year, hitting targets in southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and northern regions near the Syrian border.
When asked about a potential Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon, Hagari stated, “We will do whatever is needed” to ensure the safe return of evacuated Israeli residents from the north. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Hagari explained that Hezbollah has concealed weapons, including cruise missiles, in civilian homes and buildings across southern Lebanon, advising residents to avoid these areas. During a media briefing, Hagari showed an aerial video depicting Hezbollah operatives attempting to launch a missile from a civilian house, which was destroyed by an Israeli strike moments before launch.
“Hezbollah is putting you and your families at risk,” Hagari warned.
