The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday released photos showing Hezbollah missiles stored in a civilian home in southern Lebanon, as civilians evacuated the area following a warning from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier, IDF spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari released an infographic showing how Hezbollah is using civilian buildings to hide weapons and declared Israel's determination to destroy them. He urged Lebanese civilians to stay far away from such buildings.
Prime Minister Netanyahu later released a video urging civilians to leave the area and saying they would be allowed to return home once Israel had completed its mission.
“I have a message to the Lebanese people: Israel's war is not with you, it is with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said.
Lebanese civilians apparently took Netanyahu's words seriously and quickly blocked roads into northbound Lebanon.
Cars fleeing a southern village traffic jams as Israeli airstrikes continue, in Sidon, Lebanon, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohamed Zaatari)
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement:
Last week (Monday), the IDF carried out intelligence-driven, precision strikes on approximately 1,300 Hezbollah terror sites in Lebanon to eliminate the immediate threat to Israel.
During the attack, long-range cruise missiles, heavy rockets, rockets with warheads capable of carrying 100 kg of explosives, short-range rockets, and explosive drones were all hit by the IDF.
Hezbollah intended to position strategic weapons and capabilities in Lebanese villages and civilian homes and launch them at Israeli civilians, putting Lebanese civilians at risk.
Multiple attacks resulted in significant secondary explosions caused by Hezbollah weapons stored within the building.
Based on the assessment of the situation, the Minister of Defense has expanded the special state of emergency on the Home Front to cover the entire country. At this time, there are no changes to the Home Front Command's defense guidelines. If there are any changes, we will update them immediately on the relevant platforms.
Unlike the war in Gaza, Israel says its goal in Lebanon is not to destroy Hezbollah, but rather to push it back from Israel's borders and largely disarm it, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. 1701 (2006). Hezbollah is armed, funded and trained by the Iranian regime.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday It airs Sundays from 7:00pm-10:00pm ET (4:00pm-7:00pm PT) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of the following books: Agenda: What President Trump Should Do in His First 100 Daysavailable for pre-order on Amazon. He also Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump's presidencyavailable now on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
