Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Lebanese civilians citizens against the backdrop of escalating tensions on Monday, BNT reported.
"Israel's war is not with you. She is with ``Hezbollah,'' he said, speaking in English in a special video message, stressing that the armed group uses civilians as human shields by planting weapons in residential areas.
"Don't let "Hezbollah" to endanger your life and the lives of your loved ones”, he stressed.
He concluded with the assurance that once the operation is over, civilians can safely return to their homes. Thousands of Lebanese have already started moving away from the southern areas, trying to avoid the strikes.
Benjamin Netanyahu also indicated that his country faces "difficult days" as it steps up strikes against "Hezbollah" in southern Lebanon and called on Israelis to remain united while the campaign is underway, Reuters reported.
"I promised that we would change the balance of security, the balance of power in the North - that is exactly what we are doing" , he said in a message after assessing the situation at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu urged the public to heed warnings from the Israel Defense Forces, which advised civilians to evacuate immediately.