Israel Declares State Of Emergency Nationwide After Massive Airstrikes On Lebanon

By Damilare Adeleye

Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, has declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency. The development comes after the Israeli military launched massive airstrikes on Lebanon.

“The declaration on the state of emergency enables the IDF (Israeli military) to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant,” Mr Gallant said in a statement on Monday.

“I hereby declare a special situation on the home front in other areas of the country. The situation is valid for 48 hours starting at 6:00 am.”

The military struck Lebanon with over 100 jets to thwart a bigger attack.

Hezbollah on the other hand had also launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday.

The missiles fired by Hezbollah were visible, curling up through the dawn sky, dark vapour trailing behind them, as an air raid siren sounded in Israel.

Three deaths were confirmed in Lebanon but none in Israel.

Israel’s military further maintained that it had foiled a much larger attack with pre-emptive airstrikes, destroying thousands of launcher barrels, aimed mostly at northern Israel but also targeting some central areas.

Hezbollah dismissed Israel’s statement, saying it had been able to launch its drones as planned and that the rest of its response to Shukr’s killing would take “some time. ”