Israel’s Defense Forces have launched Northern Shield operation to expose and destroy tunnels, built by the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, crossing into Israel, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said.
The army has not called up reserves, but reinforced its forces in the north. According to the spokesman, the northern command is on full combat alert and is ready for various unexpected circumstances and scenarios.
He noted that although the tunnels cross into Israel, they are not yet operational and do not pose an imminent threat to Israeli civilians. Conricus did not elaborate on the number of tunnels.
"It will take time to neutralize and expose all the tunnels," TASS cited the spokesman as saying.
The army declared an area around Metula, in northern Israel, a closed military zone.
