Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned citizens of the coming “difficult days” and called for compliance with the directives of the Home Front Command in the field of civil defense.
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“I promised that we would change the balance of security, the balance of power in the north – that’s exactly what we are doing. We are destroying thousands of rockets and shells aimed at Israeli cities and Israeli citizens. Difficult days lie ahead. I ask you, citizens of Israel, about two things: first, follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, it saves lives; and second, be persistent, responsible and decisive,” Netanyahu said at the Air Force command center.
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The prime minister added that Israel “does not wait for a threat, but is ahead of it.”
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In recent days, the escalation between Israel and Lebanon has increased significantly. The Israeli Air Force daily carries out massive strikes against Hezbollah targets in different areas of Lebanon. Hezbollah, in turn, fires dozens of rockets, shells and drones into northern Israel. The depth of attacks from Lebanon has increased significantly, now covering the largest city in northern Israel, Haifa, and areas to the east of it.
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The current armed conflict is rapidly escalating as tens of thousands of residents in northern Israel have been forced to flee their homes due to these attacks. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced the beginning of a new stage of the war and the shift of the center of gravity of military efforts to the northern front. It was also stated that the Israeli army’s mission in Gaza was coming to an end. This was preceded by the decision of the military-political cabinet to officially include the return of residents of northern Israel evacuated due to shelling to their homes in the list of goals of the war with the Palestinian Hamas movement. Israeli officials have also changed the rhetoric of their statements, which now emphasize that the time for a diplomatic solution to the situation on the northern borders has run out, and the return of residents to their homes is possible only through military action.
