Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared a 48-hour nationwide state of emergency effective from 6am (0300 GMT) on Sunday, following pre-emptive strikes by the Israeli military in Lebanon. Gallant stated in a release from his office, "The emergency declaration allows the IDF to instruct Israeli citizens, including restricting gatherings and shutting down relevant sites." He expressed concern over the potential for attacks on civilians in regions not previously under special emergency measures, and thus extended the special situation to these areas for 48 hours starting at 6am.
In another statement, the defence ministry disclosed that Gallant had updated US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on the current situation. Gallant informed Austin, "We executed precise strikes in Lebanon to prevent an imminent threat to Israeli citizens." He added, "We are monitoring Beirut closely and are committed to employing all available resources to protect our citizens." The statement also highlighted the leaders' discussion on the necessity to prevent regional escalation.
