Israel restricts public gatherings in Northern areas as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies

Israel restricted public gatherings in northern areas, including the city of Haifa, amid expectations of a retaliation for the air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said Saturday that gatherings from Haifa up to the border with Lebanon would be restricted, reported Reuters.

Outdoor gatherings are now limited to 30 people, and indoor gatherings to 300 people. The restrictions are aimed at protecting the public as fears grow that the conflict could spread further.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched air strikes in Lebanon after learning that Hezbollah was preparing to fire rockets into Israel, an IDF spokesperson said. The attacks come a day after another Israeli air strike in Beirut, which reportedly killed 12 senior Hezbollah commanders. Lebanon said 37 people, including three children, died in that attack.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated, with over 90 rockets fired into Israel from Lebanon, while Israel says it has destroyed around 180 Hezbollah sites and many rocket launchers. Hezbollah also said it attacked 11 Israeli military positions throughout the day.

Due to the growing violence, the US government has urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave while commercial flights are still available. Jordan has also advised its citizens to leave the country.

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in October 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel. Hezbollah started firing rockets in support of the Palestinians. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the country is entering a “new phase of the war,” with a stronger focus on Hezbollah in the north.

(With inputs from BBC, Reuters)

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