IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari briefed the media Monday morning on extensive operations in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that strikes will persist in response to identified threats against Israel.
"About an hour ago, following indications that Hezbollah was preparing to fire towards Israeli territory, we began striking terrorist targets throughout Lebanon," Hagari stated. "The Hezbollah terrorist organization has been continuously launching attacks on Israeli civilians and has no plans to stop."
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari exposing Hezbollah's way of firing missiles from civilian homes, and how the IDF plans on dismantling it: pic.twitter.com/smkfjv6VDh
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 23, 2024
Hagari described the situation in southern Lebanon, explaining, "There are dozens of Lebanese villages situated along approximately 80 kilometers of the border with Israel. For over 20 years, Hezbollah has deployed its arms inside homes and militarized civilian infrastructure. As a result, the Hezbollah terrorist organization has turned southern Lebanon into a battlefield."
The IDF spokesperson detailed Hezbollah's tactics, saying, "Hezbollah stores cruise missiles, rockets, launchers, and UAVs inside civilian homes hidden behind the Lebanese population living in the village. We are monitoring these activities, locating the weapons, and destroying them with precise intelligence-based strikes."
Hagari highlighted a recent operation, stating, "I want to show you an example of a strike carried out a few weeks ago. Here we are exposing Hezbollah's method of hiding a cruise missile inside a home. The terrorists create a designated opening for the missile launch. Here you can see how we identified the terrorist making an opening in the building that exposed the missile. In a precise strike, the IDF eliminated the terrorist and this missile launching infrastructure shortly before the launch."
Addressing the impending operations, Hagari warned, "Shortly, the IDF will engage in extensive precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon. We ask residents of Lebanese villages to pay attention to the message and warning published by the IDF and heed them. This is an advance warning for your own safety and the safety of your family."
He further emphasized, "We advise civilians from Lebanese villages located in and next to buildings and areas used by Hezbollah for military purposes, such as those used to store weapons, to immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety. I want to repeat, move out of harm's way immediately. Hezbollah is endangering you and your families."
Hagari provided context for the current situation, stating, "On October 8th, the Hezbollah terrorist organization decided to join Hamas war against Israel. Hezbollah's activities are dragging Lebanon and the entire region into a wider escalation and Hassan Nasrallah is responsible for this."
Regarding the IDF's broader strategy, Hagari explained, "Over the last 11 months, we have been operating to degrade the Hezbollah terrorist organization capabilities and push back Hezbollah operatives and military assets away from Israel. We are operating to achieve all of our goals of the war in Gaza, to dismantle Hamas and bring back home all the hostages and in the north to repeal the threat posed by Hezbollah and enable the residents from the north of Israel safely to return to their homes."
Hagari concluded, "The IDF is operating and will continue to operate in defense of the citizens of Israel wherever required."
The IDF has initiated strikes in response to rocket alerts and will maintain these operations in the coming hours. Civil defense assessments and guidelines will be updated as the situation evolves. Hagari also reported the interception of an unmanned aerial vehicle from Iraq at 4:45 AM outside Israeli airspace near the tri-border region.
When asked about reports claiming the elimination of Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, Hagari responded, "We cannot confirm or deny these reports at this time. Reaching Sinwar is one of our objectives. We currently have no verified information regarding his status, and I'm not in a position to confirm or refute these claims."
