Israeli army blocks civilian emergency system over Iran leak fears, angering northern officials

The Israeli army has blocked local authorities and reserve liaison officers from accessing a civilian emergency management system used to track rocket impact sites over fears of information leaks to Iran, causing anger in northern Israel, local media reported on Thursday. The daily Yedioth Ahronoth said the system, known as "Shual," was developed by the army's Home Front Command to coordinate emergency management among crisis-response officials.

System capabilities

The system was designed to predict rocket impact zones, enable early warnings, and help direct emergency teams to specific locations after rocket strikes. According to the newspaper, the system is also used to identify dangerous unexploded ordnance, rapidly deploy search teams, and determine whether casualties had occurred.

Iran leak concerns

The paper said the system was blocked over concerns that information could leak to Iranian-linked entities allegedly monitoring impact sites "to improve the accuracy and damage of future strikes." Local officials in northern Israel complained that the ban has left them "working under enemy fire without a vital life-saving tool." They cited inability to determine the scope or direction of attacks or whether explosions resulted from interceptions or direct impacts during recent Hezbollah rocket fire.

Cross-border attacks continue

Cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah have continued despite a ceasefire announced on April 17 and extended until May 17. Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,715 people, wounded 8,353, and displaced more than 1.6 million. Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, including some held for decades, and has advanced about 10 kilometers inside the southern border during the current conflict.