IDF Arabic Spokesman: Lebanese Reaching out to Israel over War Fears

March 12, 2024

by: JNS

Tuesday, 12 March 2024 | The Israel Defense Force’s [IDF’s] Arabic-language spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said on Sunday that many Lebanese citizens are contacting him with concern that Hezbollah is leading the country into war, including messages from members of the Iranian terror proxy.

In an X post, Adraee directed them to the Facebook page of the Mossad intelligence agency.

“Recently, I received many messages from Lebanese citizens, including even those who identified themselves as Hezbollah activists, expressing their fear that Hezbollah would take Lebanon to a fate similar to Gaza, following the path of [Islamic State] and Hamas, requesting communication with Israeli parties,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately, as I have repeatedly emphasized, I am not the authorized body for these trends and therefore I cannot provide you with direct solutions, but I can direct you to the Mossad’s Facebook page (@Themossadofficial), noting the presence of the blue verification mark that shows the page’s credibility, where you may find the most appropriate way to improve your situation,” he continued.

“I understand your desire for a better situation for your country, and I wish you all a better future and life.”

Hezbollah has been launching near-daily attacks across the Israel–Lebanon border since October 7, killing 17 people and causing extensive property damage. Some 62,000 Israelis have been evacuated from communities along the border.

The IDF said on Monday that two suspected drones from Lebanon hit open areas in the northern Golan Heights, with no reports of casualties or damage. Hezbollah in a statement said that the terrorist group fired four explosive-laden drones at an IDF base in the area.

The terrorist group fired a 30-rocket barrage at the Mount Hermon area of the Golan Heights on Sunday, which was preceded by the firing of 35 rockets towards the Mount Meron area of the Upper Galilee in the morning hours.

One person was lightly injured while running to a protected space during the Meron attack, while no injuries were reported in the Hermon barrage.

The IDF struck the sources of both attacks in Southern Lebanon, destroying a launcher in the Rachaya Al Foukhar area used in the Hermon attack and hitting an additional launcher in the area of Kounine from which the Meron attack emanated.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told senior White House envoy Amos Hochstein during a meeting in Tel Aviv last week that Hezbollah’s ongoing aggression was pushing Israel to a “critical point” with regard to a large-scale Israeli military response.

In November, Gallant warned that Hezbollah is “close to making a grave mistake” that will result in the residents of Beirut suffering the consequences.

“I am telling the citizens of Lebanon: The residents of Gaza are already walking with white flags and moving south. Hezbollah is dragging Lebanon into a possible war, and it is close to making a grave mistake,” said Gallant.

“The ones who will pay the price are the Lebanese people. What we are doing in Gaza we know how to do in Beirut,” added the minister.

“Our pilots are sitting in their cockpits, planes pointing north, and the air force’s power is huge,” he said.

Posted on March 12, 2024

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on March 11, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Photo by Eric Sultan/jns.org