Israel evacuates residents of 28 towns near Lebanon border as Hezbollah attacks increase

At this point, exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants in southern Lebanon, especially Hezbollah, have become a daily occurrence, but a full-scale assault has yet to be avoided of Hezbollah. Many analysts have speculated that Israel may be holding back its expected major ground invasion of Gaza precisely to avoid triggering the opening of a “northern front.”

But there are constant signs of the situation sliding into that dreaded two-front scenario, as the IDF has initiated a plan to evacuate all civilians living within two kilometers of the Lebanese border. They said the repeated rocket and mortar fire made it necessary, also in preparation for possible larger military action.

The country’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) will oversee the transfer of Israeli civilians to state-funded pensions. Totally awesome 28 towns and communities will be evacuated.

NEMA has listed them 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 recent days have seen residents flee due to rocket fire from across the border.

Hezbollah has issued new claims that it has destroyed an IDF tank and other military assets. Both sides have already suffered some casualties.

“Hezbollah carried out a series of attacks yesterday in an attempt to do so to divert our operational efforts [away from the Gaza Strip]under the direction and support of Iran, all the while endangering the state of Lebanon and its citizens,” an IDF spokesman said on 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 fatal. The United States gives us full support.”

⚡️Hezbollah released a video showing them “aiming this morning, Tuesday 10/17/2023, a Zionist enemy army vehicle at the site of Metulla, causing direct hits.” pic.twitter.com/BRhUdpB31E

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 17, 2023

Dozens of rockets have been fired from Hezbollah positions in recent days. In response, Israel has bombed militant positions in Lebanon, but has also hit Lebanese residential areas, causing people to flee the area.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that its fighters fired an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) at a gathering of Israeli soldierswhich the group said turned out to be “A number of casualties”.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s main state backer, Iran, has continued its threats against Israel:

Whatever crimes the Zionist regime commits, they will not make up for its shameful defeat during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 17, 2023

A series of statements from multiple sides point to a continued escalation, which could explode much further Gaza crisis:

Israel Ministry of Health: “The war can 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 inescapable stages.”

Spokesperson for the FDI: “Israel is ready on its own both in the north and in the south.”

Israeli military spokesman: “If Hezbollah makes a serious mistake, we will respond with devastating force never seen before.”

Iranian leaders have gone so far as to issue the threat of a “preemptive strike” if Israel continues to decimate Gaza…

🚨 JUST IN – Iranian leader Khamenei in a rare speech:

– “We must respond to what is happening in Gaza”

– “The usurping Zionist regime must be prosecuted.”

– “This should be adopted by those who want Iran to arrest certain resistance groups, and should not have any… pic.twitter.com/fz367ZDJvx

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 17, 2023

For now, the situation is expected to be contained given President Biden’s expected trip to Israel on Wednesday. There is the widespread belief that the Israelis will not enter Gaza in full force while the American leader is visiting.

Additionally, Israel is still facing international condemnation and pressure related to the Reuters crew that was shot: “On Friday, Issam Abdallah, a Reuters video journalist, he was killed in southern Lebanon after the missiles launched from the direction of Israel hit him,” he writes News from New York. “Six other journalists, from Reuters, Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse, were also injured in the attack, which took place near the village of Alma al-Shaab.”