WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East after Iran attacked Israel Tuesday with ballistic missiles. A Kansan saw the attacks up close and spoke with KSN on his first-hand experience.
KC Withers is currently in Be’er Sheva, southern part of Israel. He says he saw rockets coming into the Israel Iron Dome from his apartment’s balcony. He says he is grateful he survived.
“There is that threat every day. But where I’m at my location, the facility I’m in, it’s really safe,” said Withers.
Withers says this “safety” he has is not the case for many people living in Israel.
“The people themselves, I hate to say it, it’s a way their life now has been for many generations,” said Withers.
An army veteran, Withers says even with his past military experience in the region, the bombardment by Iran was unsettling.
“The sirens went off many times, and then we heard the first explosion. We’re like, OK, so we went to the bunker, which was actually my bedroom,” said Withers.
Withers is from Wilson and talks to his family every day. He says the difference in life in Israel is difficult to believe.
“It’s very surreal seeing the children playing and the parents with fathers that’s armed, more or less chaperoning,” said Withers.
Withers says he wants Kansans to understand the uncertainty that looms over the region.
“We can go out our door every day, get in our car, go to work, go to a grocery store, come home. Every time they walk out of a door, it might be their last time,” said Withers.
He cannot talk about the work he does in Israel and doesn’t know when he’ll be back in the United States.
