Northern Israel braces for war with Hezbollah as cross-border attacks intensify

After almost a year of conflict in Gaza, in the city of Kiryat Bialik in northern Israel, people are contemplating war with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

KIRYAT BIALIK, Israel — Those who remain in the northern city of Kiryat Bialik are preparing for the worst-case scenario: a full-blown war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group just across the country’s northern border with Lebanon. 

After months of tit-for-tat cross-border attacks, the damage in the city in Israel’s Haifa region is plain to see. An attack Sunday damaged several buildings, blowing out their windows, leaving a trail of mangled metal, shattered glass and charred brick.

It was one of multiple attacks launched by the Iran-backed militant group over the weekend and into Monday, many of which were met with forceful responses from Israel. Lebanon’s health ministry said 274 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured by Israeli airstrikes Monday.

Surveying the damage in Kiryat Bialik on Monday, Ilan Itach was counting his blessings that his family and home for more than 30 years had survived the attack unharmed.  

Itach, 62, told NBC News that his wife, son, daughter-in-law and 5-year-old granddaughter had run into a shelter as the explosions rang out.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hezbollah-war-hamas-gaza-haifa-rambam-hospital-rcna172210

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