Israel intensifies attacks in Lebanon, Israeli civilians must show resilience – Minister – World

TEL AVIV, September 23. /TASS/. The Israeli military is expanding its attacks in Lebanon. In the coming days, civilians must show resilience and maintain discipline, reports The Times of Israel, citing Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant during a meeting on the readiness of the hinterland for the expansion of hostilities.

“We are expanding our attacks in Lebanon, <...> and will continue to do so [attack Lebanon] until our goal is reached and the people of the North [of Israel] return safely to their homes. In the future, there will be days when the population will have to show self-control, discipline and full obedience to the orders of the rear commanders,” the military chief said.

According to Galant, in the new phase of the Israeli military campaign, in which the focus of the main efforts shifts from the Gaza Strip to the targets of the Shiite Hezbollah in Lebanon, “further success depends on the correct behavior in the hinterland. The resilience of the hinterland is the key that enables the Israel Defense Forces to fight, achieve success and inflict damage on the enemy,” he said.

“The difference between success and failure will depend on the willingness of citizens to enter well-protected spaces and other places [to hide from shelling] according to our instructions. That saves lives,” said the minister.

Tensions in the region are increasing

The situation in the Middle East deteriorated dramatically on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza into Israeli territory, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 250 hostages. The radicals described the attack as a response to Israeli authorities' actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel imposed a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched retaliatory strikes against Gaza and parts of Lebanon and Syria before launching a ground operation in the Palestinian enclave.

On this front, tensions began to rise on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Since October 8, 2024, shelling from Lebanon and, in turn, from Israel has not stopped. According to statements from the army press service, Hezbollah's goals are being achieved. Up to 80,000 people have been evacuated from the border areas in northern Israel.

On September 16, Israel's military-political cabinet officially declared the return of residents evacuated from the northern areas as the fourth goal of the Israeli military campaign, which is scheduled to last from October 2023. Previously, it focused on the Gaza Strip and pursued three goals: the liquidation of the military and governing capacity of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, the return of all hostages in the enclave, and the creation of conditions under which Gaza can never again threaten Israel.