Israel warns Lebanon of continuous strikes

BEIRUT — Israel's armed forces bombed targets in south and east Lebanon on Monday and said more strikes were coming, warning Lebanese civilians to stay out of harm's way despite international calls for control.

Hezbollah has said it is ready for «all military possibilities.»

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, made a first-of-its-kind appeal to people in Lebanon.

READY FOR WAR An Israeli navy patrol boat cruises in the port of the northern city of Haifa, on Sept. 22, 2024. AFP Photo

He told them to avoid potential targets linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah as new strikes were launched Monday that would «go on for the near future.»

Hagari said Israel's military «will engage in (more) extensive and precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon.»

He urged Lebanese civilians «to immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety.»

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After nearly a year of tit-for-tat cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, exchanges over the weekend reached their most intense since the outbreak of war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip last October 7.

Hezbollah says it is acting in «support» of Hamas.

Ahead of the annual General Assembly, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of Lebanon becoming «another Gaza» and said it was «clear that both sides are not interested in a ceasefire» in the Gaza war.

Lebanon's official National News Agency said Monday «enemy warplanes launched… more than 80 airstrikes in half an hour,» targeting south Lebanon, at the same time as «intense raids in the Bekaa» Valley area in the east, where it said a shepherd was killed.

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After intense rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel has dealt «a series of blows on Hezbollah that it could have never imagined.»

Hezbollah's deputy chief, Naim Qassem, said the group was in a «new phase» in its battle against Israel.

Both spoke after attacks on northern Israel forced Israelis to seek shelter and caused damage in the area of Haifa, a major city on Israel's north coast.

«No country can tolerate attacks on its