Northern Israel fears a full-blown conflict with Hezbollah

(Dan Tri) – Eli Harel is an Israeli soldier who participated in the war against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon in 2006 when he was in his 30s.

Barbed wire fence on the border between Israel and Lebanon (Photo: Reuters).

Now, at age 50, he is ready to rejoin the army to fight Hezbollah if the current shelling along Israel’s northern border turns into a full-blown conflict between Israel and Iran’s most powerful proxy force in the country.

This time, he said, Israeli forces will face some of the most challenging combat conditions.

Mr. Harel lives in Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, which is within range of Hezbollah weapons.

Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in cross-border attacks that have escalated daily over the past six months, in parallel with the fierce war in the Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah has amassed a formidable arsenal since 2006. Similar to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has a network of tunnels to move fighters and weapons around.

Some 60,000 residents fled their homes in the first mass evacuation of northern Israel and have been unable to return safely, prompting Israel to increasingly call for stronger military action against Hezbollah.

Across the border in Lebanon, about 90,000 people have also been displaced by Israeli attacks.

Eyal Hulata, former Israeli national security adviser, said in the next few months the government should announce a date when displaced civilians can return.

In February, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah declared that residents of northern Israel `will not return` to their homes.

On the Israeli side, the country’s military recently said it has completed another step in preparing for a possible war with Hezbollah, focusing on logistics, including preparations for a

A conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon would likely lead to massive destruction in both countries.

Since October 2023, more than 300 people have died in fighting in the border areas of the two countries, mainly Hezbollah fighters.

If war breaks out, Israel will likely bomb targets in southern Lebanon before soldiers try to cross the border at least 10km.

Hezbollah will likely use its estimated arsenal of more than 150,000 rockets to target Israeli cities.