The site where a rocket fired from Lebanon into Northern Israel hit the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, May 5, 2024 (Photo: David Cohen/Flash90).
The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah once again raised the intensity of their attacks beginning on Sunday, firing over 100 rockets at northern Israel and hitting dozens of homes, according to Israeli reports.
On Sunday morning, the terror group launched several heavy barrages toward the city of Kiryat Shmona, whose residents have been evacuated since Hezbollah started its near-daily attacks in support of Hamas last October.
Three Israelis were lightly wounded by the rockets that hit dozens of buildings, vehicles – including an ambulance – and critical infrastructure, causing electricity blackouts for several hours.
The damaged MDA ambulance in the rocket attack on Kiryat Shmona. pic.twitter.com/pZKJF6BjWv
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 5, 2024
The IDF added that it had detected at least one rocket launch that fell inside Lebanese territory.
On Monday morning, the terrorists launched a salvo of some 30 rockets at an IDF base on the Golan Heights, and later launched a drone aimed at the town of Metula, following the IDF’s retaliation earlier in the night.
The Israeli Air Force struck a military compound of Hezbollah in the Baalbek area overnight, around 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) deep inside Lebanon, while striking additional targets across southern Lebanon in multiple waves since Sunday morning.
After more than 60 rockets were fired by Hezbollah at northern Israel today, the IDF says fighter jets struck several sites belonging to the terror group in southern Lebanon.
The targets included buildings and other infrastructure in the towns of Markaba, Taybe, Kafr Kila, and… pic.twitter.com/1XGmDtyGuQ
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 5, 2024
The IDF also stated it detected two rockets launched from Syrian territory that fell in open areas on the Golan Heights without causing any casualties. IDF troops responded with tank fire.
In another incident on Sunday night, the IDF shot down a drone that was making its way toward Israel from Iraq, adding that it didn’t pose a threat and therefore no alarm sirens were activated.
The “Islamic Resistance” in Iraq, an Iran-backed proxy militia, later claimed to have launched two drones against Israel. One of its drones was targeting the IDF’s naval base in the southern city of Eilat. according to a statement
Hezbollah’s rocket attack on Kiryat Shmona on Sunday was one of the most intense since the war began, causing extensive damage throughout the city.
“The ground shook from the heavy fire,” some of the few remaining residents told the Ynet news outlet.
Iron Dome seen intercepting a rocket barrage over Kiryat Shmona. https://t.co/zfKtpSX4KD pic.twitter.com/52VAitMGKk
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 5, 2024
Although approximately 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from areas near the border, minimizing casualties from Hezbollah’s barrages, the rocket attacks have devastated large areas in northern Israel.
In February, Israeli authorities said that more than 500 homes were damaged by Hezbollah fire in Lebanon. Since then, this number has increased significantly.
1/2 דו”ח תקיפות נגד ישראל בגזרה הצפונית לחודש אפריל. מספרים בלתי נתפסים. מלחמה על מלא מלא. את הנתונים האלה אסור להסתיר, ובמיוחד ואת התוצאות ההרסניות: מעל 100 אלף אזרחים עקורים או חיים בזירת מלחמה. אלפי עסקים שנסגרו. מערכות חינוך שקרסו. pic.twitter.com/YIrIrXtjig
— Lobby 1701 – לובי 1701 (@Lobby1701) May 1, 2024
The mayor of Kiryat Shmona, Avihai Stern, told Ynet the residents were displaced from their homes over seven months ago and are left without any hope or certainty of returning home.
Now, they are losing their patience and demanding a decision from the government.
“Whoever thinks that the residents of Kiryat Shmona will return to the city to be sitting ducks is making a grave mistake,” Stern said.
While speaking about reports regarding possible diplomatic agreements with Hezbollah, Stern threatened, “If there is no clear decision, the [Tel Aviv] Kaplan demonstrations will be child’s play compared to what we are planning soon.”
Zebbick Zavigi, a local social activist, told Ynet he went to check for damages after the first barrage and was caught outside by the second one.
“There was a direct hit to an apartment on the block next to me. I didn’t get to the entrance to the house and the vehicle was already hit by a rocket. It was simply providence, God saved me. There are a lot of falls inside Kiryat Shmona and everywhere you can see the smoke rising from the damage,” he said.
The city’s municipal stadium, a school, and many homes were damaged, in addition to a direct hit on a soup kitchen.
Rockets also damaged homes in the surrounding areas. Yaniv Turgeman told Ynet that a rocket hit his house in Moshav Shtula. It was the second time the building had been damaged since October.
The site where a rocket fired from Lebanon into Northern Israel hit the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, May 5, 2024 (Photo: David Cohen/Flash90).
Since the outbreak of the war, Turgeman’s wife and children have been evacuated, while he has stayed behind to work on the farm, sleeping at his parents’ home, which is farther from the border.
“All this time I didn’t sleep at home because I knew he was in the anti-tank missile range and I was very afraid of that,” he said.
The family’s memories were destroyed by the explosion, Turgeman said. “We didn’t have time to take the photo albums and all the memories… We wanted to return home so bad but we have nowhere to go now. I don’t know what we will do.”
He also said he didn’t trust the government’s ability to make decisions and wasn’t sure he’d return after the war.
“With this temporary agreement they’re working on, not even one resident will remain here on the fence… Our settlements and homes are being wiped out and the government and the army say that they have driven Hezbollah away. It is impossible to continue like this.”
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