Israel Intensifies Attacks on Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon

Israel has announced plans to intensify attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, citing the need to eliminate the threat to the people of northern Israel.

The Israeli military has called on Lebanese civilians to leave areas where the Hezbollah movement operates, warning that Israel will soon launch “wide-scale precision strikes” against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

“We ask residents of villages in Lebanon to pay attention and follow the warning messages issued by the Israeli army,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman said at a press conference.

Residents in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley have received text messages warning them to stay away from buildings used by Hezbollah as weapons caches. The messages read: “If you are in a building with Hezbollah weapons, stay away from that place until further notice.”

The Israeli military has released a video showing Hezbollah members preparing to launch a cruise missile from a house in a southern Lebanese village that was later hit by an Israeli airstrike. “Hezbollah is planning to launch these weapons towards Israel, stay away from them immediately to protect yourself,” an IDF spokesman stressed.

The warning comes amid concerns that tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are at risk of escalating into a full-blown conflict following a series of recent developments. Since last week, Israel has carried out a series of cross-border raids targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

International leaders have called on Israel and Hezbollah to cool tensions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres fears Lebanon could become a “second Gaza” as Israel and Hezbollah continue to fight.

UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has warned that the region is “on the brink of disaster”, stressing that no military solution can guarantee safety for both sides. US President Joe Biden has said that Washington and its partners will do everything possible to prevent a full-scale conflict in the Middle East.

The European Union has also called for an immediate ceasefire. “A full-scale war must be prevented through strong diplomatic mediation efforts,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.