Israel has imposed a special state of emergency in the north due to the threat of shelling from Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant declared a special state in the north of the country due to the threat of massive rocket attacks from Lebanon. This was announced by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday, September 21.

"A special state of affairs is being imposed in the area from Haifa and further north. In areas where it is possible to take shelter in protected areas, it will be possible to continue studying and working," The Times of Israel quoted him as saying.

In addition, restrictions have been imposed on gatherings in the area: the number of people gathered outdoors must not exceed 30, and 300 indoors.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that 15 other members of the movement, including senior commanders of the Radwan special unit, were killed in an Israeli strike on a Beirut suburb along with Hezbollah special operations commander Ibrahim Aqil. In total, the IDF said, the Israeli Air Force struck 400 Hezbollah launchers during the day . On the same day, it was reported that the death toll in the strike on a Beirut suburb rose to 37.

Israel's strike on the Lebanese capital was targeted - the IDF sought to eliminate Hezbollah Shiite commander Ibrahim Aqil, who is a member of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah's top military body, the Jihad Council. The movement confirmed Akil's death. Two residential buildings collapsed in the city after the strike.

The IDF said on Sept. 19 that its military carried out a series of attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, hitting 100 launchers and facilities of the group. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said before that the Jewish state was shifting forces to the northern front because of the start of a new phase of the war.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected Israel's territory to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, as well as invaded border areas in the south of the country and took hostages. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.