Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Monday that over 300 Hezbollah targets have been attacked so far today and that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has approved the attack on new Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Earlier today, IDF announced on Telegram that it was attacking the southern area of Lebanon after the IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the Israeli military plans to launch more “extensive” attacks on its Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Various towns in southern Lebanon have been attacked, including the Toul region, Nabatieh district, Al-Maytam area and Jezzine area, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to the reports, the attacks on the Toul region resulted in an unidentified number of people injured, and there were also injuries reported in the attacks on the towns of Kfarhatta, Babliyeh, Kawthariyeh al-Sayyad and al-Ghassaniyah, some of which included residential buildings being hit.
Israel warns civilians in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of ‘extensive strikes
JERUSALEM — Israel on Monday urged residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate from homes and other buildings where it claimed Hezbollah has stored weapons, saying the military would conduct “extensive strikes” against the militant group. It was the first warning of its kind in nearly a year of steadily escalating conflict and came after a particularly heavy exchange of fire on Sunday. Hezbollah launched around 150 rockets, missiles and drones into northern Israel in retaliation for strikes that killed a top commander and dozens of fighters. There was no sign of an immediate exodus from the villages of southern Lebanon, and the warning left open the possibility that some residents could live in or near targeted structures without knowing that they are risk. The increasing strikes and counterstrikes have raised fears of an all-out war, even as Israel is still battling Hamas in Gaza and trying to return scores of hostages taken in Hamas‘ Oct. 7 attack. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its strikes in solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas, a fellow Iran-backed militant group. Israel says it is committed to returning calm to its northern border. An Israeli military official said Israel is focused on aerial operations and has no immediate plans for a ground operation. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with regulations, said the strikes are aimed at curbing Hezbollah’s ability to launch more strikes into Israel. Lebanese media reported that residents received text messages urging them to move away from any building where Hezbollah stores arms until further notice. “If you are in a building housing weapons for Hezbollah, move away from the village until further notice,” the Arabic message reads, according to Lebanese media. Israel has accused Hezbollah of transforming entire communities in the south into militant bases, with hidden rocket launchers and other infrastructure. That could lead the Israeli military to wage an especially heavy bombing campaign, even if no ground forces move in. The military said it had targeted more than 150 militant sites early Monday. Residents of different villages in southern Lebanon posted photos on social media of airstrikes and large plumes of smoke. The state-run National News Agency also reported airstrikes on different areas. Israel has vowed to push Hezbollah back from the border so its citizens can return to their homes, saying it prefers to do so diplomatically but is willing to use force. Hezbollah has said it will keep up its attacks until there is a cease-fire in Gaza, but that appears increasingly elusive as the war nears its anniversary. NN: Sounds like war to me.