MIDDLE EAST:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (main picture) has ordered an “immediate, thorough, and independent” inquiry into claims that residents in southern Beirut were given insufficient warning of overnight airstrikes by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

“I am very concerned that the protocols we have in place to warn innocent civilians not linked to Hezbollah in areas about to be targeted by the IDF were not followed prior to Saturday night’s attacks,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“The warning system we have used in Gaza in the past year is the same one we have been using in Lebanon in the past few weeks. It’s worked well in Gaza and there is absolutely no reason it should not be applied in exactly the same way in the areas of Lebanon that the IDF is attacking.”

Mr Netanyahu then explained to reporters the warning system employed by the IDF.

“We make sure that civilians in both Gaza and Lebanon get full information about the intention of the IDF to strike their neighbourhood,” he said.

“The IDF writes personal letters to each householder in the area to be targeted warning them of the imminent attacks, then puts the letters in individually addressed envelopes and posts them in the nearest Israel Post post box. (below)

“I understand from initial reports received from Israel Post that some of these letters posted on Saturday evening did not have sufficient stamps applied to them and, in some cases, no stamps at all,” an angry Mr Netanyahu said. “So it’s no wonder civilian didn’t get the usual amount of notice.

“I have insisted that we get to the bottom of this and find out exactly who is responsible for this unacceptable behaviour.

“To that end Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has appointed an independent investigator to mount a probe into this reprehensible lapse in our protocols.

“The special investigator, Goav Yallant, (below) will start work immediately and will insist that proper processes continue to be followed in both Gaza and Lebanon.”

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