IDF closes off southern areas as shadow of Iran attack looms

The IDF on Monday announced new closures starting from 12 noon in portions of the South relating to a Tisha B’Av prayer service, as an attack from Iran loomed.

There is no evidence that Hamas could pose a significant threat to these areas given that its rocket fire has been minuscule since January, with tiny spurts only impacting the closest Gaza border villages.

The Jerusalem Post understands that the specific directive came out after right-wing activists seeking to draw attention to their campaign to resettle Gaza pushed for large-scale Tisha B’Av prayer groups on Monday.

Sources said that between 700 and 1,500 people were expected and that a number of areas are being closed to make sure that the large group prays in a place that is both secure in terms of air defense and also will not block the maneuvering of military forces.

Israel has a delicate air defense balance, given that both Iron Dome and the Arrow 3 missile defense systems might be needed, and navigating the activists to a more exact area makes it easier to protect them.

Impacted areas

The area impacted is between the Erez Crossing and Yad Mordechai, the Shaar Hanegev Junction, the Netivot Junction, and down to Nahal Oz.

Agricultural areas from the Netivot Cemetery, until Route 234 on one side and the security fence on the other side, have also been closed.

The Nahal Eshkol area is also closed from the Re’im Junction running along the Urim Junction to the Maon Junction and onto the security fence.

IDF chief spokesman R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Monday night that Israel is monitoring developments in Iran regarding a threatened strike against Israel, but the military has not changed its precautionary guidelines to the public.

In April, Tehran launched hundreds of aerial threats at Israel; one of its main targets was the Nevatim air base in the South.

There are also a variety of other IDF bases in the South, and Tehran has specifically threatened to strike military bases.

The current situation emerged out of an extended tit-for-tat between Israel and Iranian proxy Hezbollah during the 10-month-old war, which eventually escalated when the Lebanese terror group killed 12 Druze-Israelis at Majdal Shams, to which Israel responded by killing Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr, and also has been accused of killing Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh while he was a guest in Tehran on July 29.

The Islamic Republic and Hezbollah have threatened massive retaliation for the last two weeks since then.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported that Hezbollah has evacuated its headquarters in the Beirut suburb of Dahieh in case Israel would attack those areas in a possible escalation between the sides.

Hezbollah transferred its computers, equipment, and many of its top officials out of Beirut to an undisclosed location. The IDF had not responded at press time about to what extent this would complicate its targeting efforts against the terrorist group should the situation escalate.

At press time, it said that a very small number of IDF and Hezbollah exchanges of fire had taken place, somewhat betraying the severity of what is in actuality an impending high-stakes situation.

Sirens sounded in the North a number of times on Monday. The air force suspended travel overseas for its personnel in recognition of the drastic situation between Iran and Hezbollah and the fact that the situation has and may continue to drag out for a longer period than the one in April.

Late Sunday night, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the departure of two ships and one submarine for Israel after he reiterated America’s commitment to Israel’s defense in a call with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to a readout from the US Defense Department from Monday overnight.

During the call, Gallant informed Austin that Iranian military preparations indicated Iran was preparing for a significant attack against Israel, a source briefed on the conversation shared.

The US Defense Department revealed that Secretary Austin ordered that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, along with F-35C fighters, accelerate its transit to the Central Command area, bolstering the military presence already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Additionally, the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, has been deployed to the region.

It is unusual for the US to publicize the deployment of its submarines, given that their covertness is one of their special advantages