Israel declares border area with Lebanon closed zone

The Israeli army yesterday declared the border area with southern Lebanon a “closed zone” and prevented Israeli farmers from approaching it, following the killing of six Hezbollah leaders in Syria on Sunday, the Anadolu Agency reported.

“The Israeli army declared the border area with southern Lebanon a closed zone for farmers,” Israel’s Channel 10 said.

The channel quoted farmers in the area as saying that the army prevented them approaching the area.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military source denied reports claiming the Israeli army boosted its presence on the border with Lebanon, Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said.

According to Israel’s Channel 2, the Israeli Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz said the army was ready to face any developments and follows up closely with what is happening on the ground.

Heads of local councils in the Israeli border settlements began recruiting funds from the private sector to search for tunnels into Israel which are believed to have been dug up by Hezbollah.

Israel’s Channel 10 quoted sources living in the border area as saying that some citizens feel drilling under their homes during the night.

The fear of tunnels rose after Hamas carried out several attacks on Israeli settlements through tunnels in the recent war on Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a security cabinet meeting to be held today to discuss the security developments along the northern front after the reported killing of six Hezbollah members in Syria, army radio reported.

The station said the army boosted its presence along its northern border.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said six of its members were killed in an Israeli air strike on the Syrian side of the

Golan Heights which also led to the killing of five Iranians.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike.