The Israeli army accused the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah of deliberately hiding offensive weapons in civilian homes in southern Lebanon. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said this affected dozens of villages in a zone up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Israeli border.
“Hezbollah has turned southern Lebanon into a war zone,” he said. In doing so, the organization is endangering its own citizens. He called on all civilians who are near the houses where Hezbollah is hiding weapons to leave the area immediately.
Asked by a journalist whether Israel was planning a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, Hagari said it would “do everything possible to allow the residents of northern Israel to return safely to their homes.” Israel has recently significantly stepped up its attacks on its neighboring enemy.
