Defense minsiter visits IDF Northern Command HQ, warning that Israel "will not tolerate attacks on it;" IDF chief Gantz says the "north is quiet, strong, and steadfast."
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon vowed that Israel will not tolerate attempts to harm it, and would respond “with force against any such attempt,” on a visit to the IDF’s Northern Command headquarters.
The North remained tense but calm on Saturday, as the IDF maintained its level of alert. No unusual incidents occurred throughout the day. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen.
Benny Gantz remained in the North throughout the weekend.
Lebanese media reported Israel Air Force activity over southern Lebanon.
The IAF routinely carries out intelligence gathering flights in the area.
Ya’alon visited the Northern Command’s headquarters in Safed on Friday and heard a security evaluation.
He was joined by the Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi (who was until recently commander of Military Intelligence), the head of the Operations Branch Maj.-Gen. Yoav Har-Even and other senior command officers.
The defense minister heard about the latest IDF preparations in the North designed to ensure maximum readiness, after an air strike on Sunday killed 12 senior Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps operatives near Quneitra, Syria.
The targets of the strike included Jihad Mughniyeh, son of the late Hezbollah terrorist operations commander, senior Hezbollah member Muhammad Issa, and IRGC Gen. Muhammad Ali Allahdadi. According to Western intelligence sources, the operatives were in the middle of planning a series of rocket attacks, bombings, antitank missile strikes and infiltrations against Israel.