Smoke arises from Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, Sept. 21, 2024 (Photo: Screenshot/X)
Israel Defense Forces announced two additional massive waves of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets on Saturday, while the IDF Command prepared to continue Israel’s aggressive policy, aiming to return the evacuated residents of northern Israel to their homes.
In the evening, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari announced a special situation on the Home Front, declaring “Alert Level 2” in settlements north of Haifa.
This means that schools and workplaces will only be allowed to open if a shelter can be reached within a pre-defined time. In addition, gatherings in buildings and open places will be restricted.
After a relatively quiet morning, following the overnight elimination of 16 senior Hezbollah commanders, the IDF announced the closure of Israeli airspace to civilian aircraft in the northern part of the country to improve the aerial defense array’s radar capabilities.
In the early afternoon, the army warned residents of northern Israel to stay near their bomb shelters in anticipation of imminent rocket fire.
The IDF immediately announced the start of a massive wave of airstrikes, which eventually struck around 400 targets and destroyed thousands of launcher barrels over the next hours.
“Fighter jets of the Air Force attacked thousands of launch barrels ready for immediate launch,” the army stated.
⭕️Approx. 180 Hezbollah targets and thousands of launcher barrels, ready for immediate use against Israeli civilians, were dismantled by a number of strikes in southern Lebanon.
The IDF will continue operating to dismantle and degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities and terrorist… pic.twitter.com/lWyQNoydII
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 21, 2024
Despite the airstrikes, the terror group managed to launch 90 rockets in four barrages, targeting various areas across the Golan Heights, and the Western and Upper Galilee region.
Most of the rockets were either intercepted or landed in open areas without causing casualties. In the town of Kadita, near Safed, a rocket directly hit a house, causing it to catch fire.
A Hezbollah rocket hit a house near Safed, causing a fire.
This is precisely what people are supporting when they protest for the “glory to the martyrs”. pic.twitter.com/ADsg2RdILB
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) September 21, 2024
The rockets sparked several fires in the area of Safed, with one wildfire in the Biriya Forest continuing to burn into the evening.
On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a statement he published on Friday evening, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath.
“I emphasize again: Our goals are clear and our actions speak for themselves,” Netanyahu stated, shortly before the IDF announced another wave of airstrikes had been launched.
Israeli intelligence identified preparations for a large-scale attack by Hezbollah an, therefore, launched another wave of strikes across southern Lebanon, Hagari said.
According to Israeli Sources; tonight’s Wave of Strikes against Southern Lebanon were conducted following Intelligence having been received suggesting Hezbollah was preparing to launch a Major Attack on Northern and Central Israel, with Long-Range Rocket and Missile Sites as well… pic.twitter.com/8QXNJGngN5
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 21, 2024
Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar stressed, “We continue to be on the highest alert that we could put the Air Force on – both in defense and attack.”
The IDF stated that senior officers met throughout the day on Saturday as “part of the expansion of the fighting.”
Northern Command head Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin held a situation assessment and visited soldiers of the 300th and 769th Brigade on the northern border.
