Israeli occupation forces announced on Saturday a tightening of civilian security restrictions, prohibiting gatherings of more than 1,000 persons in various core locations of the occupied territories.

"Following a situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Saturday), with immediate effect, changes will be made to the Home Front Command's Defensive Guidelines in different areas in central Israel," the IOF announced on Telegram.

IOF spokesperson Daniel Hagari told a briefing that the prohibition will apply to gatherings of more than 1,000 persons in the listed regions.

A ban on meetings and other restrictions have been enforced in northern occupied territories amid regular bombardment by the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah. The decision to modify the security parameters came after it was confirmed that Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had been assassinated in a brutal Israeli attack on the Southern Suburb of Beirut.

Russia, Cuba condemn assassination of Sayyed Nasrallah

Moscow strongly condemns the killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and urges "Israel" to halt fire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, adding that the action has sorrowful implications for Lebanon and the whole Middle East.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed that it "strongly condemns another political assassination committed by Israel. This military action is fraught with even greater dramatic consequences for Lebanon and the entire Middle East. The Israeli side could not have been unaware of this danger, but took such a step, the murder of Lebanese citizens, which will almost inevitably provoke a new outbreak of violence. Thus, it bears full responsibility for the subsequent escalation."

It also urged "Israel" to halt its aggression, saying that doing so would provide the circumstances for the crisis to be resolved.

The world community must do all possible to avoid the Middle East from devolving into a full-fledged war following Sayyed Nasrallah's death, the Ministry warned.

On his part, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the founder and leader of the left-wing party La France Insoumise, has expressed on X that he is "appalled by the scale of the ongoing massacre in Lebanon. Netanyahu is violating the sovereignty of states throughout the region with the complicity of Europe and the USA." 

Consterné par l'ampleur du massacre en cours au Liban. Netanyahu viole la souveraineté des États dans toute la région avec la complicité de l'Europe et des USA. Le génocide à Gaza se propage sans limite.

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) September 28, 2024

He stated that "Netanyahu's crimes will continue since they are unpunished. The danger is extreme for the region and the world."

The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, also posted a strong condemnation of the assassination. 

Díaz-Canel called the targeting "cowardly" and denounced the destruction and the death of innocent civilians at the hands of the Israeli occupation.

This comes as the Israeli occupation escalated its widespread aggression against Lebanon, launching targeted attacks on multiple regions and villages in the Bekaa Valley, the South, and Mount Lebanon, following a night of intense shelling that reverberated through the Southern Suburb of Beirut.

In the latest wave of attacks, the occupation conducted a series of raids targeting Baalbek and its surrounding areas, as well as the vicinity of Hermel, according to reports from Al Mayadeen's correspondent in northern Bekaa.

"Israel" launched massive strikes on Friday, targeting residential neighborhoods in the Southern Suburb of Beirut.

Six buildings were razed to the ground as a result of the Israeli aggression, as Israeli media reported that 2,000 tons of explosives were dropped on the neighborhood of Haret Hreik in the assault.

The IOF announced that the goal of the attack was the assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Israeli Army Radio pointed out that F-35 aircraft carried out the airstrikes using bunker-buster bombs.