Israeli Official: Iran Trying to Deploy Arms in or through Syria

 Demonstrators unfurl a large Palestinian flag during an anti-Israel rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Damascus' central Arnous Square on October 13, 2023 amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
Demonstrators unfurl a large Palestinian flag during an anti-Israel rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Damascus' central Arnous Square on October 13, 2023 amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
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Israeli Official: Iran Trying to Deploy Arms in or through Syria

 Demonstrators unfurl a large Palestinian flag during an anti-Israel rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Damascus' central Arnous Square on October 13, 2023 amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
Demonstrators unfurl a large Palestinian flag during an anti-Israel rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Damascus' central Arnous Square on October 13, 2023 amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)

A senior Israeli official accused Iran on Sunday of trying to open a second war front by deploying weapons in or through Syria as Israel steps up a counter-offensive in Gaza to the south.

Responding to a post of the X social-media platform that posited such a scenario, Joshua Zarka, head of strategic affairs for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said: "They (Iranians) are."

The original post also said "the Israelis are determined to prevent" such developments. To that, Zarka responded: "We are."

Syria accused Israel of carrying out strikes against Damascus and Aleppo airports last week.



Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The Israeli army issued a statement on Sunday requesting the residents of five towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate in anticipation of airstrikes, while warning residents not to head south.
The military told the residents of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Arnoun, Yuhmor, and al-Qusayba, to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Awwali River.
“You must evacuate immediately to the north of Awwali River to ensure your safety, you must evacuate without delay. Anyone near Hezbollah fighters, facilities or weapons is putting their life at risk”, added the statement.
In a separate statement, the army said that sirens sounded in central Israel due to Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon.
It added that six projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory, and that its air forces intercepted five of the rockets, while the last one landed in an open area.