Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday (23) that, as promised, his country is changing the “balance of power” on its northern border, after a day of intense attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
“We are facing difficult days. I promised that we would change the balance of power in the north and that is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said in a recorded message after a meeting in Tel Aviv with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi.
At least 182 people were killed and 727 others were injured in Monday’s Israeli strikes, according to the latest update from the Lebanese Public Health Ministry; an unprecedented number since hostilities between Tel Aviv and the Shiite group Hezbollah began in October 2023.
“I want to clarify Israel’s policy: We do not wait for a threat, we anticipate it. Everywhere, in every scenario, at any time. We eliminate high-ranking officials, we eliminate terrorists, we eliminate missiles,” the head of the Israeli government added.
Israel announced earlier that it had eliminated 800 targets of the terrorist group and asked citizens in both the eastern Bekaa Valley and southern areas, Hezbollah strongholds, to leave their homes if they were near buildings used by the militia to store weapons.
While the total number of displaced people is still unknown, the Lebanese government activated a national emergency plan on Monday to assist the “considerable number” of displaced people.
In addition, authorities are also coordinating the opening of schools and other centers to welcome displaced people in Mount Lebanon and the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre.
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