Israeli Family Escapes Hezbollah Rocket ‘By One Second’ as Conflict Escalates

An Israeli mother and her four children narrowly escaped a deadly Hezbollah rocket attack over the weekend, highlighting the escalating conflict between Israel and the militant group.

Anava Nidam, 38, described how her family managed to avoid tragedy when a rocket struck their home near the Lebanese border just seconds after they had taken shelter.

The Nidam family narrowly missed death when a rocket hit their home this morning in Manot, Northern Israel, near the Lebanon border. Credit: Dan Charity.

Nidam, who had recently moved from the village of Zarit to a house three miles from the border while her husband Avihai fought in Gaza, hurried her children into a steel-lined shelter after hearing explosions in the distance.

The rocket blasted through the concrete roof of their home, showering the interior with shrapnel and glass, but the family remained unharmed. The inflatable paddling pool in their garden was destroyed, and the attack shook the children.

Picture of the blitzed Nidam family home during the massive wave of attacks. Credit: Dan Charity

Nidam, now homeless and seeking relocation further south, expressed frustration over the ongoing violence. “Hezbollah must be pushed back because it’s impossible to live like this,” she said, describing the northern region of Israel as becoming a “no-go area.”

The family was comforted by Nidam’s mother, Adva, 56, who noted the terrifying difference between hearing outgoing Israeli artillery fire, which is generally perceived as less threatening, and incoming Hezbollah rockets. The intense atmosphere in Manot was underscored when a loud bang caused by an outgoing fire from a nearby artillery battery forced reporters to take cover.

The latest hostilities are part of a broader conflict that has intensified since Hezbollah launched a significant barrage of missiles towards Israel, purportedly in retaliation for the assassination of one of its leaders in an Israeli airstrike last month.

Shrapnel burst an inflatable slide where the Nidam family’s kids were playing shortly before the blitz. Credit: Dan Charity

Although Hezbollah aimed to fire thousands of rockets, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes reportedly thwarted these plans, limiting the group’s ability to launch a full-scale attack.

Israeli jets conducted pre-emptive strikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers, destroying thousands of launch tubes and reducing the group’s ability to inflict damage. The IDF reported that its air defences successfully intercepted most threats, with limited damage inflicted by the remaining projectiles.

The damaged patio inside the Nidam family home Credit: Dan Charity

The IDF spokesperson confirmed that the operation was part of a larger plan to defend against Hezbollah’s anticipated escalation. The conflict has seen ongoing exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, with recent attacks marking the most severe escalation since the October 7 attacks from Gaza.

A shrapnel from the rocket was found inside the house. Credit: Dan Charity

Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed that the recent attacks were just the beginning of their response. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the pre-emptive strikes were part of a broader strategy to protect Israeli citizens and change the situation in the north.

Sunman Nick Parker is reporting from Manot near the Lebanon border. Credit: Dan Charity

In Lebanon, the health ministry reported that three people were killed in Israeli strikes, including one from a drone attack and two from an assault on the village of Tiri. The escalating violence poses a significant risk of further regional instability, potentially drawing in additional international actors.

Hezbollah militants ride on a vehicle carrying a Fajr 5 missile during an annual parade.

A building hit directly by a rocket fired from Lebanon overnight. Credit: Rex

An Israeli woman standing near a shattered window in a building hit directly by a Hezbollah rocket. Credit: Rex

The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in retaliatory strikes, with the conflict showing no signs of abating.

Sola Adeniji

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