Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Israeli minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant (2nd R) at a military base in Tel Aviv on August 25, 2024. (Photo via X)

Tel Aviv, August 25 (RHC)-- The Israeli regime has declared a 48-hour state of emergency as a wave of panic swept across the occupied territories following a barrage of retaliatory strikes by Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement.

Israel’s minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant announced that the state of emergency would take effect from 06:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Sunday.  “The declaration on the state of emergency enables the [Israeli military] to issue instructions …, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant,” Gallant said in a statement released by his office.

“I am convinced that there is a high probability of an attack,” the statement added.

Following the declaration, the Israeli military Home Front Command issued restrictions on Israelis from the Tel Aviv area northwards.

It said educational activities and workplaces would be able to operate if an adequate shelter is nearby and can be reached in time, but there would be restrictions on gatherings of up to 30 people outdoors and 300 people indoors.

Beaches were also closed near the Lebanese border.  The Israel Airports Authority announced that departing flights at Ben Gurion Airport were being delayed and arrivals would be redirected to other airports due to the security situation.

As part of an “initial response” to the Israeli assassination of Fuad Shukr in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh, Hezbollah launched at dawn Sunday a large number of rockets and drones deep into the occupied territories.

The Lebanese resistance group said it fired more than 320 rockets along with several explosive-laden drones that targeted 11 military bases in northern Israel, also setting off sirens in the coastal city of Acre, Katzrin in the occupied Golan Heights as well as numerous settlements in the Galilee.

Hezbollah also struck multiple sites, military barracks, and Iron Dome installations belonging to the occupation forces in northern occupied territories with a heavy barrage of missiles, among which were Meron Base, Naftali Ze’ev artillery position, Zaitoun Base and Yardan Base in Golan Heights.

Commander Shukr was a longtime trusted friend and close confidant of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.  At his funeral ceremony, Nasrallah described the martyrdom of Shukr as a “big loss,” but reassured that his loss “will not weaken Hezbollah whatsoever.”

Three people killed in Lebanon

Local media reported on Sunday that the Israeli occupation had launched a wide and intense attack on numerous areas in southern Lebanon, including an unprecedented targeting of villages.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said three people were killed after Israeli drones struck a car in Khiam town and warplanes conducted a raid on the al-Tyri town and two airstrikes on the outskirts of Zibkin.  Israeli artillery also targeted areas in the occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon and the town of al-Dahira in Tyre’s western sector.

Lebanese news portal Naharnet reported that two people, including a Syrian man, were wounded in “a series of Israeli raids” in the south.

Separately, the Lebanese Amal Movement announced the death of one of its members in an Israeli strike in Khaim.

The Israeli regime has been conducting near-daily attacks against southern Lebanon since October 7, 2023, when it launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

The attacks have reportedly claimed the lives of around 600 people in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has been responding with strikes aimed both at retaliating against the regime and supporting the war-hit Gazans.