This Saturday, the Israeli armed forces imposed a ban on gatherings of more than a thousand people in different areas of the country, particularly in Tel Aviv, anticipating a likely retaliation by Hezbollah for the death of its leader. Festivals, large concerts and other larger-scale events are temporarily suspended. These new limits come in addition to others, announced a week ago, for the north of the country, from the city of Haifa to the border with Lebanon, which forced the closure of beaches and restrictions on school and educational activities and the holding of events.
After confirming the death of Hassan Nasralah, Hezbollah assured that it would continue the holy war. “The Hezbollah leadership promises to the most supreme, sacred and beloved martyr of our journey, that it will continue its struggle to face the enemy, in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people”, read- if in the statement.
As a precaution, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also advised airlines this Saturday “not to operate” in the airspace of Lebanon and Israel. “We have decided to issue Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIB), recommending non-operation in Lebanese and Israeli airspace at all flight levels,” they stated.
The recommendation is in force until October 31 and may be revised, adapted or withdrawn following a “revised assessment review”. The organization “will continue to closely monitor the situation to assess whether it is necessary to increase or decrease the risk alert for EU operators as a result of the evolving threat”, he added.
Meanwhile, aerial bombings in Lebanon continue, mainly in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Nasrallah was killed. The New York Times says the sound of drones can be heard throughout the capital. Israel guarantees that the targets are Hezbollah weapons warehouses and that the war is not with the Lebanese. “To the people of Lebanon, I say: our war is not with you. It is time for change,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a statement. “[Nasrallah] He was the murderer of thousands of Israelis and foreign citizens. And it was a threat to the lives of many others”, he explained.
The spokesman for the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) also warned this Saturday that military operations against Hezbollah do not end with the death of its leader, whose elimination Israeli diplomacy considered one of the “most justified anti-terrorism measures”. “This is not over yet, Hezbollah has more capacity,” said Daniel Hagari, confirming that the Air Force continues to bomb the Shiite organization’s positions in different parts of the country.
The Lebanese Council of Ministers meets in an emergency this afternoon – at 5:30 pm in Lisbon – to discuss the situation in the country. During Friday’s bombings, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, was in New York, where he participated in the UN General Assembly. He returned earlier, “following the Israeli aggression against the southern suburbs of the capital”.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Friday’s Israeli attacks killed at least 11 people and injured more than 100 people. Casualties from Saturday’s attacks have not yet been counted.
