Israel Prepares To Face Counterattacks, Netanyahu: We Are Ready To Survive And Attack

UNSPLASH/Stanislav Vdovin ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Israel is preparing to face a retaliatory attack. Israel's ambulance service is preparing to provide a blood supply in the fortified underground center.

Meanwhile factories are moving dangerous materials. Meanwhile, the city government is inspecting bomb shelters and water supplies while the country is waiting for the threat of an attack from Iran and its allies.

Israel has strengthened its territory for months and much preparation has been made since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led armed men launched a devastating cross-border attack on the Israeli community.

But its level of interest has risen sharply over the past 10 days as the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon threatens to turn into a massive regional war.

"I know that Israelis are vigilant, and I ask you one thing to stay patient and calm," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, August 7 when meeting with new members of the army.

"We are ready to defend and attack, we attack our enemy and are also determined to defend ourselves," he said.

Israel is now facing the threat of a multifront war, facing a series of militant movements Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi in Yemen, all of which are supported and funded by its old enemy, Iran.

The attack is expected to take place in the coming days following Iran's pledge and Hezbollah to retaliate for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week and military commander Hezbollah Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

After months of concern and attacks by hundreds of Iranian missiles in April thwarted by Israeli air defenses and the aid of international allies, Israel is now familiar with this crisis.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from the northern region with Hezbollah rocket range at the start of the war and many border areas now have quiet and deserted air.

But prolonged bombardment of Hezbollah's rocket armaments could reach further within the country to sensitive targets such as the port city of Haifa in northern Israel, which is far within reach.

Rambam Hospital in the city has been on standby since last October and has prepared three-story underground facilities to treat patients.

"We're waiting to see what happens," said David Ratner, a hospital spokesman.