At this point, exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants in south Lebanon, especially Hezbollah, have become a daily occurrence - and yet still a full assault from Hezbollah has been avoided. Many analysts have speculated that Israel could be holding off its expected major ground invasion of Gaza precisely to avoid provoking a 'northern front' from opening up.
But there are continuing signs the situation is sliding toward that feared two-front scenario, as the IDF has initiated a plan to evacuate all civilians who live within two kilometers of the Lebanese border. They said the repeat rocket and mortar fire make it necessary, also in preparation for potential greater military action.
The country's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) will oversee transferring of Israeli civilians to state-funded guesthouses. In total a whopping 28 towns and communities will be evacuated.
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| Israeli army Merkava tanks, file image via AFP/Getty |
NEMA has listed them out as follows: Ghajar, Dishon, Kfar Yuval, Margaliot, Metula, Avivim, Dovev, Ma’ayan Baruch, Bar’am, Manara, Yiftah, Malkia, Misgav Am, Yir’on, Dafna, Arab al-Aramshe, Shlomi, Netu’a, Ya’ara, Shtula, Matat, Zar’it, Shomera, Betzet, Adamit, Rosh Hanikra, Hanita and Kfar Giladi.
Many of these in the last several days saw residents flee due to rocket fire from the other side of the border.
Hezbollah has issued new claims it has destroyed an IDF tank and other military assets. Already both sides have taken on a few casualties.
"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," an IDF spokesman had said Monday.
"We have increased our forces on the northern border and will respond aggressively to any activity against us," the IDF said. "If Hezbollah dares to test us, the reaction will be deadly. The United States is giving us full backing."
⚡️Hezbollah published a video showing them “targeting this morning, Tuesday 10/17/2023, a vehicle of the Zionist enemy army in the Metulla site, causing direct hits.” pic.twitter.com/BRhUdpB31E
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 17, 2023
Dozens of rockets have been launched from Hezbollah positions in the last days. Israel has in response shelled militant positions in Lebanon, but has also hit Lebanese residential areas, prompting people in the area to flee.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) at a gathering of Israeli soldiers, which the group said resulted in "a number of casualties".
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's main state backer Iran has continued ratcheting the threats against Israel:
Whatever crimes the Zionist regime commits will fail to compensate for its disgraceful defeat during the Al-Aqsa Storm operation.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 17, 2023
A series of statements from multiple sides point toward continued escalation, which could explode well beyond the Gaza crisis:
Israel Ministry of Health: "The war may last a long time, prepare an emergency stock of food for 4 months."
Iranian Foreign Minister: "The expansion of the war to other fronts has begun to reach unavoidable stages."
IDF Spokesman: "Israel is prepared on its own both in the north and in the south."
Israeli Military Spokesman: "If Hezbollah commits a grave mistake, we will respond with devastating force never seen before."
Iranian leaders have gone so far as to issue threat of 'preemptive attack' if Israel continues decimating Gaza...
🚨 JUST IN - Iranian Leader Khamenei in Rare Speech:
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 17, 2023
- "We MUST Respond to What is Happening in Gaza"
- “The usurper Zionist regime must be prosecuted.”
- "This should be realized by those who want Iran to stop certain Resistance groups, and they shouldn’t have any… pic.twitter.com/fz367ZDJvx
For now, the situation is expected to be contained given President Biden's expected Wednesday trip to Israel. There's widespread belief that Israeli will not go into Gaza with full force so long as the US leader is visiting.
Additionally, Israel is still facing condemnation and international pressure related to the Reuters crew which was fired upon: "On Friday, Issam Abdallah, a Reuters video journalist, was killed in southern Lebanon after missiles launched from the direction of Israel struck him," writes the New York Times. "Six other journalists — from Reuters, Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse — were also injured in the attack, which occurred near the village of Alma al-Shaab."
(Article by Tyler Durden republished from Zerohedge.com)
Source: https://www.planet-today.com/2023/10/israel-evacuates-residents-of-28-towns.html