'Israel' tensely awaits attack as threat looms: Reuters
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"Israel" is on high alert as the threat of Hezbollah and Iran's response looms.
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The sun rises behind the Tel Aviv skyline, occupied Palestine, on August 6, 2024. (AP)
"Israel's" ambulance service has stocked blood supplies in a fortified underground center, factories have moved out hazardous materials and municipal authorities are checking bomb shelters and water supplies as the country waits for a threatened attack from the Axis of Resistance, according to Reuters.
Since the outbreak of war on Gaza, "Israel" has been taking security measures amid confrontations with the Palestinian Resistance. However, the urgency has sharply escalated over the past 10 days as relatively contained confrontations with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon have threatened to spiral into an all-out regional war.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "I know that the citizens of Israel are on alert, and I ask of you one thing - keep patient and cool," while meeting new army recruits. He said, "We are prepared for defense and attack, we are striking our enemies and are also determined to defend ourselves."
According to the report, "Israel" now finds itself facing the threat of a multifront war, confronting the Axis of Resistance.
On that note, an attack is expected in the coming days following vows from Iran and Hezbollah to retaliate for the assassinations last week of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from northern areas within the range of Hezbollah's rockets at the start of the war, leaving many northern regions with a ghostly, abandoned atmosphere.
However, a prolonged bombardment from Hezbollah's extensive rocket arsenal could strike deeper into the entity, targeting sensitive locations such as the port city of Haifa in northern occupied Palestine, which lies well within range.
'Israel' on high alert
The military is on high alert and recently upgraded its nationwide air raid siren and broadcast alert system to include real-time text notifications for residents in vulnerable areas. Local councils have urged residents to limit non-essential activities, remain near protected areas, and avoid large gatherings.
In Haifa, public bomb shelters have been outfitted with digital systems that allow them to be unlocked remotely during an attack, according to Yair Zilberman, director of the city's security and emergency services department. These shelters are also being equipped with generators. Zilberman added that several underground parking lots were designated as makeshift shelters, with sufficient space to accommodate thousands of residents if necessary.
Last Thursday, the Environmental Protection Ministry conducted a situational assessment to determine the best strategies for safeguarding factories with hazardous inventories that could pose risks if targeted by a missile strike. The assessment also addressed protocols for managing attacks on buildings containing asbestos.
On that note, the Bazan Group, which operates in Haifa one of the largest oil refineries in the eastern Mediterranean, told Reuters it was "working to maintain energy security and the continuity of fuel supply to the economy."
Additionally, authorities are preparing for the possibility of mass cash withdrawals, a scenario that could strain financial systems and require coordinated response measures. "The stock of banknotes and coins in the Bank of Israel and the banking system will, according to every visible forecast, be sufficient," the Bank of Israel said.
