Israel is limiting gatherings in the north as it attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israel has launched airstrikes in Lebanon and is blocking access to the city of Haifa and other northern areas as it continues to attack targets linked to Hezbollah.

A number of warplanes began “mainly” attacking southern Lebanon “following the detection of Hezbollah preparing to fire towards Israeli territory,” said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

Israel’s latest attack comes a day after it carried out an airstrike in Beirut, which the IDF said killed a dozen Hezbollah commanders. Lebanon said 37 people – including three children – they were killed.

The US government is urging its citizens there to travel with “commercial options while they remain”.

On Friday, cross-border exchange of fire resumed between Israel and Hezbollah.

Before the Israeli strikes began this evening, the IDF said it had previously destroyed “about 180 sites and thousands of [rocket] launcher barrels” with strikes

The IDF also said that more than 90 rockets were fired into Israeli territory from Lebanon. Hezbollah said it targeted 11 Israeli military positions during the day.

Earlier this week, 39 people were killed and thousands injured after pagers and chatbots used by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia and political party, it exploded two days across Lebanon.

On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the attack, saying it crossed “all red lines” and vowed it was “just punishment”.

Israel did not claim responsibility.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the pager and walkie-talkie blasts violated international humanitarian law.

On Saturday, the IDF announced new restrictions on communities in northern Israel and parts of the southern Golan Heights from 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT).

The IDF has limited gatherings to 30 participants in an open area and 300 participants in a closed area. Academic activities can continue and commuting to work is permitted as long as there are safe spaces available.

Restrictions apply in the Haifa area and north.

As fears grow that the conflict could erupt into full-scale war, the US State Department has issued new travel advisories for citizens currently in Lebanon.

The US embassy in Beirut urged people to “leave Lebanon while commercial options are still available”, noting that they are already operating at a “reduced capacity”.

The embassy added that it “may not be able to help US citizens who choose to stay”.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued similar advice to its citizens, urging those in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible.

Border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on October 8, 2023 – the day after Israel attacked Hamas gunmen in Gaza – when Hezbollah shelled Israeli positions in coordination with the Palestinians.

Israel recently increased the return of displaced people from the north of the country because of border fighting in its list of war terms.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Israel is entering the area “a new phase of war” it is concentrating its efforts in the north.