Israeli authorities have begun evacuating communities along the Lebanese border, threatening to “destroy” the country if the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group goes to war with Hamas terrorists, according to New York Post.
Following a rocket barrage with Lebanon’s Shiite group Hezbollah on Sunday, the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of residents in 28 communities within 1.2 miles of the border with Lebanon. The IDF said the residents would be housed in “state-funded boarding houses” in towns in central Israel that are considered safer, but Hezbollah weapons could reach Tel Aviv, according to the Times of Israel.
The Israeli military is calling on Lebanon to back down. In a televised briefing Monday, Tzahi Hanegbi, Israel’s national security adviser, warned Hezbollah to halt its attacks or reckon with “the destruction of Lebanon.” IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also said Hezbollah would receive a “deadly” response if it continued to attack Israel. He said in a news conference, according to the Times of Israel.
Hezbollah carried out a number of attacks yesterday in order to try to divert our operational efforts [away from the Gaza Strip], under the direction and backing of Iran, while endangering the state of Lebanon and its citizens. We have increased our forces on the northern border, and respond aggressively to any activity against us. If Hezbollah dares to test us, the reaction will be deadly,” he continued, adding: “The United States is giving us full backing.
The warning follows an IDF report that Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles on Sunday, wounding at least four civilians. The Jerusalem Post reported that the shelling killed one civilian in his 40s and one soldier.
Hezbollah’s deputy head Naim Qassem issued a statement Friday saying Lebanon would join the fight “when the time comes to act.” He told supporters in the Beirut suburbs that Hezbollah was rejecting foreign appeals for Lebanese fighters not to join the fighting as Hezbollah’s leader was meeting with Iran’s foreign minister to discuss the situation. Qassem said:
The behind-the-scenes calls with us by great powers, Arab countries, envoys of the United Nations, directly and indirectly, telling us not to interfere will have no effect. Hezbollah knows its duties perfectly well. We are prepared and ready, fully ready, and we are following developments moment by moment.
On Sunday, Iran warned Israel of a possible regional war, The Telegraph reported. Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said:
If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger.
