Israel and hezbollah exchange heavy fire as war escalates

Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire on Thursday, with rocket attacks and airstrikes hitting targets across the region as the conflict between the two sides intensified.

Escalating violence in the middle east

The latest barrage of rockets from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah into northern Israel, coinciding with an Iranian missile strike, bore out fears of a prolonged and brutal war. In Metula, the northernmost Israeli town, residents huddled in cafes and shelters, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy under the constant din of warplanes and artillery fire.

Although no one was killed in the latest attacks, the toll of the conflict mounted. At least 634 people had died in Lebanon, with over 1,586 injured and nearly a million displaced, according to the UN. In Israel, 12 civilians had been killed by Iranian missiles, with hundreds more injured.

As the death count rose, Israeli officials predicted further escalation, with some calling for a larger ground invasion of Lebanon. The northern border towns, once a bastion of support for the centrist government, now rallied behind the most rightwing administration in Israel's history, with many demanding Hezbollah be disarmed and destroyed.

For residents of Metula and surrounding communities, the war had become a constant companion, with the sounds of rocket fire and airstrikes now a normal part of life. 'We want to keep a bit of sanity for us, for the residents, for our soldiers,' said Miry Menashe, co-owner of the Bela cafe, which remained open despite the danger.

As the Israeli cabinet approved higher defense spending and more borrowing, economists warned the conflict could harm the country's economy, with tourism – a mainstay of the economy – effectively frozen.