Israel considers lifting defense guidelines in the north at the border with Lebanon

The Israeli army is preparing to lift the 'defense guidelines' currently in place in northern Israeli border communities close to Lebanon, following the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, reported the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, cited by the Jerusalem Post and other Israeli and Lebanese media.

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According to KAN, "the Israeli army plans to lift all defense instructions issued by the Home Front Command for the first time in a year and four months, in a move that reflects the relative calm following the end of funeral ceremonies (in Lebanon) without security incidents."

The media adds that the implementation of this decision is subject to approval by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi, and would only be ratified once the funerals of Hassan Nasrallah and Hachem Safieddine are officially completed.

Series of raids in southern Lebanon

The public media text adds: "If the funerals proceed without any particular security incident, towns along the northern front line will be declared in green alert 1, meaning a complete return to normal in terms of security."

Coinciding with the Israeli 'preparations' to ease security tensions in the north, Israeli fighter jets launched a series of raids Sunday on southern Lebanon, injuring some civilians.

Security guidelines in northern Israel have been in place since Oct. 8, 2023, the day Hezbollah opened its "support front" in Gaza by launching strikes on Israeli territory. These guidelines have alternately been strengthened and relaxed following the course of the war between Israel and the party.

The Israeli army eliminated Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27 in a heavy strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hachem Safieddine was killed about a week later. The war led by Israel in Lebanon has caused the death of more than 4,000 people and resulted in the most significant population displacement in the country's history.

The fighting has devastated entire Hezbollah strongholds in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The Shiite formation has lost hundreds of men during the war, particularly since September, according to a source close to the party.