‘Get Out Of Harm’s Way: Netanyahu’s Evacuation Request To Lebanese Civilians After Israel’s Airstrikes Kill At Least 450

Tel Aviv: In a recorded message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese civilians to heed their calls to evacuate, adding that the Hezbollah was using them as ‘human shield’.

The leader urged people in Lebanon to ‘get out of harm’s way’ claiming that the Hezbollah had been using them as “human shield. “….Don’t let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones… Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,” Netanyahu said.

The leader released this statement after Israel widened air campaign against Hezbollah. Lebanon experienced its deadliest day of violence since 2006 on Tuesday. Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions killed at least 492 and left 1,645 others injured, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

In the past one year, some of the heaviest cross-border exchanges of fire took place as Israel turned its focus to its northern border. They alleged Hezbollah had been firing rockets into Israel to support of its ally Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza.

Mass exodus in Lebanon

Israel’s attack across Lebanon prompted a mass exodus. Tens of thousands of citizens fled their homes on Monday even as IDF bombs continued to explode. Israel’s Defense Forces reportedly gave Lebanese civilians a matter of hours to flee their homes.

How did the recent strikes begin? Soon after the pager and walkie talkie attacks in Lebanon that killed some Hezbollah leaders, Israeli military launched airstrikes in Beirut last week. The airstrikes killed Ibrahim Aqil, a senior leader in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. Hezbollah in retaliation launched over 100 rockets across areas in northern Israel. Some rockets allegedly landed near the northern city of Haifa, Reuters reported.