Israel’s civil defense agency has ordered the closure of all schools in the country’s northern region following intensified rocket attacks by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
According to the AFP, the Home Front Command announced on Sunday that educational institutions and other related activities in the north will remain suspended until at least 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday due to the escalating conflict.
“Hezbollah’s actions have made it unsafe for schools and other gatherings to operate in the region,” the military’s Home Front Command said in a statement. “We are prioritizing the safety of civilians.”
The situation follows increasing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, further aggravated by an Israeli airstrike earlier this week in Beirut.
The attack, which targeted Hezbollah military commanders in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, has led to a rising death toll.
On Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that 45 people have now died as a result of the airstrike, updating an earlier count of 37.
The ministry stated, “Work continues to remove the rubble for the third day in a row,” adding that DNA testing will be used to identify some of the victims.
The violence between Hezbollah and Israel has heightened tensions in the region, with both sides engaging in retaliatory strikes and exchanges, leaving the situation volatile.
