Hezbollah Threats Prevent Israeli Return to Northern Border Communities

Latest Developments

Israel will return evacuated residents to the northern border only when it is safe for them to go home, said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on February 1. Halevi was visiting the northern border region and met with IDF commanders during a situational assessment.

Due to concerns that Hezbollah will attack Israel in the north, Israel deployed numerous IDF units on the northern border following Hamas’s October 7 attack from Gaza. Hezbollah fired more than 2,000 rockets into Israel between October 7 and January 9, according to the IDF. Israel evacuated more than 80,000 Israelis from border towns in October due to these threats.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah has caused extensive damage to northern Israel during the four months of its unrelenting attacks. The terrorist group has forced 80,000 people from their homes and continues to attack Israel with daily rocket fire. It is essential that the Iranian-backed terrorist group be deterred from further attacks.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Israeli and Lebanese civilians are holding their breath, hoping that there will not be an all-out war between their countries. So far, the IDF and Lebanese Hezbollah have managed to keep the conflict at a low simmer, but the current modus vivendi is unsustainable, with hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in both countries. If a diplomatic solution cannot be reached soon, then Israel must take the necessary steps to return its citizens to their homes, farms, and businesses on the northern border.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

427 Homes Damaged in Hezbollah Attacks

A total of 427 homes have been damaged by Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon since October, Israel’s Ministry of Defense reported on February 1. The ministry’s director general, Eyal Zamir, visited northern towns affected by the attacks that day. Israel created a Northern Horizon Directorate to assess the damage along the border and direct rehabilitation for the communities. Recognizing the challenges ahead, Zamir said he is committed to returning Israeli citizens to their homes.

Rocket Fire Causes Sirens in Northern Israel

Hezbollah rocket fire targeting northern Israel on February 1 and 2 set off sirens in numerous Israeli communities, demonstrating the continued threat Hezbollah poses. On January 30, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned in Haifa that a full-scale war in the north would threaten Haifa and other Israeli cities.

Related Analysis

“Israel Warns of Hezbollah Threats to Haifa, Northern Israel,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Northern Israel as IDF Chief Warns of Escalation,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran-Backed Drone Attack Kills Three U.S. Servicemembers in Jordan,” FDD Flash Brief