Israel prepares for possible Hezbollah front in an Iran confrontation

Israel, taking seriously a scenario of Hezbollah joining a war with Iran, has begun military preparations including a home-front exercise and naval strike planning.

• Israel's armed forces began a week-long exercise on Sunday simulating complex multi-front emergency scenarios across the country.
• Israeli artillery shelled several towns in southern Lebanon on Sunday and carried out an explosion in the town of Ainata; on Saturday forces carved new roads linking their positions in the western and central sectors.
• Ma'ariv reported Israel's navy would strike Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh and blockade Beirut and Tripoli ports if Hezbollah escalates.
• Israeli media said ten US military transport planes arrived at Israeli air bases in recent days amid reported preparations for renewed strikes on Iran.