Israel is launching the Northern shield operation at the Israeli-Lebanese border as it aspires to find and destroy cross-border tunnels that the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement allegedly uses for covertly transporting its militants to Israel, Jonathan Conricus, the spokesman of the Israeli Defense Forces, said on Tuesday.
TEL AVIV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th December, 2018) Israel is launching the Northern shield operation at the Israeli-Lebanese border as it aspires to find and destroy cross-border tunnels that the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement allegedly uses for covertly transporting its militants to Israel, Jonathan Conricus, the spokesman of the Israeli Defense Forces, said on Tuesday.
He specified that there was currently "more than one" tunnel, while none of the tunnels was currently being used, and none of them currently jeopardized security of the Israeli citizens.
"We announce the start of the Northern shield operation. Its aim is to identify and neutralize the cross-border attacking tunnels that Hezbollah is digging from Lebanon to Israel," Conricus said at a press briefing for foreign reporters.
"We know that there is a whole range of tunnels. I won't give the exact number now, but there is more than one," he added.
Conricus went on to say that the operation would be conducted only on the Israeli-controlled territories, including the northern areas of the Golan Heights.
The troops of the Israeli Northern District have been put on increased combat alert and have been reinforced, he added.
"The Northern District is on increased alert, it is ready for any unexpected event and scenario. We have not mobilized the reservists, but we have reinforced out troops in the north of the country," Conricus said.
