In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, at least 150 rockets were launched into northern Israel on Wednesday, killing a civilian couple and injuring several others in the border town of Kiryat Shmona.
The rockets, fired by Hezbollah, struck multiple areas, igniting fires and causing widespread destruction.
According to paramedics, the victims, a man and a woman in their 40s, were walking their dog along a tree-lined street when they were fatally struck by shrapnel.
The BBC reports that the couple were the first Israeli civilians killed by Hezbollah since the conflict intensified two weeks ago.
The Israel-Hezbollah hostilities have become increasingly severe after Israel launched a major airstrike campaign against the Iran-backed militant group, followed by a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed that its rockets targeted Israeli forces stationed in Kiryat Shmona, a town that has been mostly evacuated over the past year due to persistent cross-border hostilities.
Despite the evacuations, rocket fire remains a daily occurrence for those who stayed behind, with this latest attack highlighting the severe threat residents face.
The rockets also ignited several fires throughout the town. One resident shared her experience: “We could smell the fires before we saw them,” she said.
In one street, neighbors looked on as firefighters struggled to contain the thick smoke billowing from a house that had been hit by a rocket.
Katy Krelshtein, a witness to the destruction near her father’s home, voiced her frustration.
“I saw red. It’s gone beyond fear now—it’s just anger,” she remarked, reflecting the growing sentiment among residents calling for decisive military action to end the constant bombardment.
For many in Kiryat Shmona, life under the shadow of rocket fire has become unbearable. Shelley Barkan, one of the few remaining residents, described the relentless assaults.
“There are days when we face up to nine rocket alerts,” she said. “I’ve got pieces of rockets in my garden. Their aim is to murder us, to kill us, to send Israel to the sea, and our aim is to defend ourselves.”
Israeli military officials have indicated that their ongoing ground invasion, which began nine days ago, is aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure along the border.
The militant group is viewed as a significant threat to Israeli communities near the Lebanese border. On Wednesday, fierce clashes were reported between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, signaling the continuation of what has been a deadly and destructive conflict.
As the violence intensifies, Kiryat Shmona remains a flashpoint, with those remaining in the town urging their government to take action against the group responsible for their suffering.