Following a significant assault on Hezbollah, Israel has declared an emergency within its borders. A 'Special Home Front Situation' has been announced across the country until September 30, indicating a heightened risk of attacks on civilian populations. Reports have emerged that senior Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki was killed in the strike, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli military strikes caused chaos among Hezbollah fighters. Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon left 274 people dead and 1,024 injured, including numerous children, women, and doctors. Specifically, there were 21 children and 39 women among the casualties. The IDF claims it bombarded around 300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon simultaneously.
Additionally, residents in Lebanon have been warned to evacuate their homes and buildings immediately. According to Lebanese officials, more than 80,000 suspicious Israeli calls have been received, urging people to vacate their homes. Imad Kreidieh, the head of telecom company Ogero, confirmed that these calls are a form of psychological warfare intended to create chaos and panic.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: Our Fight is Not with Lebanese Citizens!
In a video message, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “I want to send a message to the people of Lebanon. Israel is not fighting you. We are fighting Hezbollah, which has long used you as human shields, placing rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garages, targeting our civilians. To protect ourselves, it’s time to destroy these weapons. Therefore, you are warned to distance yourselves from Hezbollah. Please move to safe areas immediately.”
Hezbollah Launches Hundreds of Aerial Attacks on Israel on Sunday
Prior to this, on Sunday, Hezbollah launched a barrage of attacks on Israel. According to a report, early Sunday morning, Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel, causing chaos. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces stated that Hezbollah continues to target their people. Over 140 rockets and drones were fired into Jezreel Valley on Sunday morning.
Source: aajtak
People in Israel Sheltering in Bomb Shelters During Hezbollah's Attacks
Alerts were issued near numerous military sites, including Haifa, Ramat David Airport, Nazareth, Afula, and Lower Galilee. The IDF posted on X, “Hezbollah’s terrorism is targeting our civilians. Thousands of Israelis spent their nights hiding in shelter homes. Rockets were showering over their heads, with some even hitting their homes. Rocket alert sirens blared continuously throughout the night.”
The conflict escalated from a pager blast in Lebanon on September 17 to aerial assaults. Israel is creating havoc not only with drones but also fighter jets. After pager and walkie-talkie blasts in Lebanon, Hezbollah retaliated with rocket attacks on Israel, but they did not anticipate such a forceful response, as they were still reeling from the initial injuries.
How Long Can Hezbollah and Lebanon Stand Against the Israeli Military?
Israel and Lebanon share a border of approximately 130 kilometers, known as the Blue Line, marking Israel’s north and Lebanon’s south. Despite Hezbollah’s frequent challenges from Lebanese soil, Lebanon stands no match to Israel in terms of military strength. According to the Global Firepower Index, Israel ranks 18th among 145 countries, while Lebanon is significantly behind at 111th. Thus, there is no comparison in the capabilities of the two nations.
