Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency, effective 6 am Sunday, in response to the Israeli military’s pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon.
A statement from Gallant’s office read:
“The declaration on the state of emergency enables the IDF (Israeli military) to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant.
“I am convinced that there is a high probability of an attack against the civilian population in areas of the country where the declaration of a special situation did not apply.
“I hereby declare a special situation on the home front in other areas of the country. The situation is valid for 48 hours starting at 6:00 am.”
In a separate statement, the Defence Ministry confirmed that Gallant briefed US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on the situation.
“We have conducted precise strikes in Lebanon in order to thwart an imminent threat against the citizens of Israel.
“We are closely following developments in Beirut, and we are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens,” he stated.
The state of emergency will remain in effect for 48 hours, starting at 6 am Sunday.