02:07Mandatory credit: IDF
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced on Monday that the military has begun 'attacking terrorist targets in Lebanon'.
"We maintain a continuous situation assessment regarding the situation on the home front, and are constantly with our hand on the pulse, if required we will update any changes immediately in front of the necessary precautionary measures. The attacks will continue in the near future," he said.
The spokesperson also called on Lebanese communities to 'stay away' from 'properties' or 'houses' where 'Hezbollah hides weapons'.
"I repeat this - we urge you to stay away from them immediately," he continued. "This is for your safety and protection. Hezbollah endangers you - and your families."
When asked about whether the IDF was considering launching ground operations in southern Lebanon, Hagari responded: "We will do everything necessary to return the residents of the north to their homes safely."
The IDF spokesperson also confirmed that their troops are focused on locating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
This comes as Israel is currently investigating whether Sinwar may have been killed in recent airstrikes in Gaza. According to local media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Military Intelligence Directorate is looking into the possibility of his death.
"We have one clear mission to reach Sinwar. Regarding what has come up in the last day regarding Sinwar's situation, I neither deny it nor confirm it, we have one mission to get to Sinwar and we will get to him," Hagari responded.
This comes a day after Hezbollah reportedly fired a barrage of rockets towards areas in northern Israel - including Haifa and the lower Galilee areas - in response to the mass wireless device detonations that occurred across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Israeli army confirmed that 85 rockets were detected entering northern Israel from south of Lebanon. The IDF said it began striking targets in southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah's attack.
The Israeli Ministry of Health has instructed all hospitals in northern Israel to only operate within fortified aboveground areas, whereas Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa's largest hospital, has announced that it is functioning only as an underground medical center.
Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has ordered beaches to be shut down and the cancellation of educational activities taking place in Haifa alongside border areas with Lebanon.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have ramped up in the wake of the pager bombings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburb of Beirut, killing 45 people, including the two Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wehbe and 14 operatives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return residents of northern Israel to their homes, in turn, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah responded by saying the 'support front' would pursue as long as the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues.
'Began attacking terrorist targets in Lebanon' - Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah sites, urges residents located near hideouts 'to stay away'
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced on Monday that the military has begun 'attacking terrorist targets in Lebanon'.
"We maintain a continuous situation assessment regarding the situation on the home front, and are constantly with our hand on the pulse, if required we will update any changes immediately in front of the necessary precautionary measures. The attacks will continue in the near future," he said.
The spokesperson also called on Lebanese communities to 'stay away' from 'properties' or 'houses' where 'Hezbollah hides weapons'.
"I repeat this - we urge you to stay away from them immediately," he continued. "This is for your safety and protection. Hezbollah endangers you - and your families."
When asked about whether the IDF was considering launching ground operations in southern Lebanon, Hagari responded: "We will do everything necessary to return the residents of the north to their homes safely."
The IDF spokesperson also confirmed that their troops are focused on locating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
This comes as Israel is currently investigating whether Sinwar may have been killed in recent airstrikes in Gaza. According to local media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Military Intelligence Directorate is looking into the possibility of his death.
"We have one clear mission to reach Sinwar. Regarding what has come up in the last day regarding Sinwar's situation, I neither deny it nor confirm it, we have one mission to get to Sinwar and we will get to him," Hagari responded.
This comes a day after Hezbollah reportedly fired a barrage of rockets towards areas in northern Israel - including Haifa and the lower Galilee areas - in response to the mass wireless device detonations that occurred across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Israeli army confirmed that 85 rockets were detected entering northern Israel from south of Lebanon. The IDF said it began striking targets in southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah's attack.
The Israeli Ministry of Health has instructed all hospitals in northern Israel to only operate within fortified aboveground areas, whereas Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa's largest hospital, has announced that it is functioning only as an underground medical center.
Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has ordered beaches to be shut down and the cancellation of educational activities taking place in Haifa alongside border areas with Lebanon.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have ramped up in the wake of the pager bombings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburb of Beirut, killing 45 people, including the two Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wehbe and 14 operatives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return residents of northern Israel to their homes, in turn, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah responded by saying the 'support front' would pursue as long as the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues.
Mandatory credit: IDF
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced on Monday that the military has begun 'attacking terrorist targets in Lebanon'.
"We maintain a continuous situation assessment regarding the situation on the home front, and are constantly with our hand on the pulse, if required we will update any changes immediately in front of the necessary precautionary measures. The attacks will continue in the near future," he said.
The spokesperson also called on Lebanese communities to 'stay away' from 'properties' or 'houses' where 'Hezbollah hides weapons'.
"I repeat this - we urge you to stay away from them immediately," he continued. "This is for your safety and protection. Hezbollah endangers you - and your families."
When asked about whether the IDF was considering launching ground operations in southern Lebanon, Hagari responded: "We will do everything necessary to return the residents of the north to their homes safely."
The IDF spokesperson also confirmed that their troops are focused on locating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
This comes as Israel is currently investigating whether Sinwar may have been killed in recent airstrikes in Gaza. According to local media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Military Intelligence Directorate is looking into the possibility of his death.
"We have one clear mission to reach Sinwar. Regarding what has come up in the last day regarding Sinwar's situation, I neither deny it nor confirm it, we have one mission to get to Sinwar and we will get to him," Hagari responded.
This comes a day after Hezbollah reportedly fired a barrage of rockets towards areas in northern Israel - including Haifa and the lower Galilee areas - in response to the mass wireless device detonations that occurred across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Israeli army confirmed that 85 rockets were detected entering northern Israel from south of Lebanon. The IDF said it began striking targets in southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah's attack.
The Israeli Ministry of Health has instructed all hospitals in northern Israel to only operate within fortified aboveground areas, whereas Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa's largest hospital, has announced that it is functioning only as an underground medical center.
Meanwhile, the IDF Home Front Command has ordered beaches to be shut down and the cancellation of educational activities taking place in Haifa alongside border areas with Lebanon.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have ramped up in the wake of the pager bombings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburb of Beirut, killing 45 people, including the two Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wehbe and 14 operatives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return residents of northern Israel to their homes, in turn, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah responded by saying the 'support front' would pursue as long as the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues.