Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have escalated as Hezbollah retaliated with drones and missiles following Israeli strikes, forcing tens of thousands near the border to evacuate, leaving cities and communities deserted.
Hezbollah's response to the Israeli strikes, which resulted in three deaths including two of its members, involved launching drones and guided missiles into northern Israel. The Israeli army's Iron Dome air-defense system intercepted these aerial targets, continuing a pattern of intense exchanges of fire that began last October.
Israel, being a small country, frequently bears the signs of conflict. In an area marked by previous conflicts, remnants like tanks can be easily spotted. On hilltop, a modern-day Israeli army intelligence post remains vigilant.
The northern border has seen some of the heaviest exchanges of fire, with Hezbollah, backed by Iran, intensifying its attacks to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel has countered with tank fire, artillery, and airstrikes, leading to mass evacuations on both sides.
Kiryat Shmona, the closest Israeli city to Lebanon, bears the brunt of repeated attacks. Most of its residents have fled, only returning sporadically to check on their homes, weary of the relentless conflict.
Irena Vaknin, a resident of Kiryat Shmona, shared her frustration.
"The war is a joke-ping pong; they shoot at us, we shoot at them. But it must finish at some point. My feeling is that diplomacy will not help unless they develop some kind of superpower. Maybe it will only end after some serious fighting, much more serious. But it has to finish!" said Vaknin.
Residents remaining in the area face frequent missile strikes, with some causing direct damage and others landing harmlessly in fields.
"Yes, I'm afraid. That's why I've moved away," Vaknin added.
The proximity of the communities, with Israel and Lebanon (used other words to replace “divided only by a narrow strip”), perpetuates the frequency of attacks. The streets of Kiryat Shmona are quiet, with closed shops and deserted public spaces reflecting a city not yet ready to rebuild.
The close proximity of communities near the border perpetuates frequent attacks. The streets of Kiryat Shmona are eerily quiet, with closed shops and deserted public spaces, signaling a city far from recovery.
Rising tensions on Israel-Lebanon border threaten resident safety
