Tel Aviv, March 12 (NationPress) Yair Lapid, the Leader of the Opposition in Israel, declared on Thursday that the nation is engaged in a “just war” aimed at safeguarding all citizens from threats posed by terrorist organizations.

In his remarks to the media, Lapid emphasized that the conflict in northern Israel is a response to attacks from Hezbollah and Iran, who are actively targeting the region with drones and missiles.

He remarked, “To understand why we are fighting this war in northern Israel, it’s crucial to realize that if a siren goes off right now, you must run; otherwise, in just 10 seconds, you could lose your life due to the bombardments from the Hezbollah terrorist group. Iran is sending drones and missiles to this area, and there won’t be enough time to seek shelter. Our mission is to fight a just war to ensure that every Israeli is protected and not vulnerable to terror organizations or regimes.”

This statement emerges amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which intensified following joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of former Supreme Leader Khamenei and senior military officials. In retaliation, Iran has conducted drone and missile strikes targeting US and Israeli interests, as well as regional allies in West Asia.

Additionally, Israel's Health Ministry reported that 179 individuals have been hospitalized in the last 24 hours due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The casualties include both civilians and military personnel. Among those hospitalized, four are in moderate condition, while 157 are considered stable, and 18 are receiving treatment for anxiety, according to The Times of Israel.

The Ministry did not disclose specific details regarding the injuries, but it is presumed that most were incurred while seeking shelter rather than from direct missile or rocket attacks from Iran or Lebanon.

As of now, a total of 2,745 individuals have required hospital treatment since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran on February 28. Out of these, 85 remain hospitalized, including 11 in serious condition, 10 in moderate condition, and 64 in stable condition, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Earlier today, Israel reported that Iran launched its fourth ballistic missile attack since midnight. Initial assessments indicated that the missile was successfully intercepted, and no injuries were reported. Sirens were activated in Jerusalem and several areas in the south and West Bank.