Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to take all necessary measures to prevent the evacuation of Israelis from northern Israel, as cross-border attacks from Lebanon intensify. "We will do everything possible to prevent the evacuation of towns, and there are solutions for that," Netanyahu stated in comments broadcast by Channel 12, although he did not elaborate on the specific solutions he had in mind.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli leader emphasized the expansion of a "security zone" in southern Lebanon as a strategy to mitigate the risk of ground incursions from Lebanon. Netanyahu also linked the heightened tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon to the broader conflict involving Iran, asserting a commitment to fundamentally alter the situation in Lebanon.

The situation has escalated following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials report that these actions have resulted in at least 1,072 fatalities and 2,966 injuries.

The conflict in Lebanon is occurring in parallel with a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which commenced on February 28 and has resulted in over 1,340 deaths. In retaliation, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes against Israel, as well as other regions including Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, with the purported aim of targeting US military assets.