Starting Friday night into Saturday a series of surreal images and videos have circulated widely showing that whole swathes of northern Israel are literally on fire.
The fires were largely in open field areas, but were very extensive given they were the result of about 35 rockets being fired from Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, targeting the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, which suffered damage.
⚡️Hezb-Allah missiles burning the occupied town of Kiryat Shmona pic.twitter.com/fgDMrDPL0A
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) May 10, 2024
Brushfires erupted, but there were some direct hits on homes and buildings as well. "The city reported significant damage to property and infrastructure, with dozens of homes and vehicles affected," Ynet news reports.
At least ten fire crews from the area of Galilee and Golan responded, and worked to extinguish at least two expansive fires which were in open fields.
Israeli authorities have confirmed and filmed the fires which were at their height in the Friday overnight and Saturday early morning hours.
⚡️Hezbollah has brought hell to Kiryat Shmona... Massive fires erupted from Katyusha rockets…. are still ongoing. pic.twitter.com/ijnyFWFaOS
— Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) May 10, 2024
Hezbollah, which is a close ally of Iran, issued a statement confirming its fighters launched "a salvo of Katyusha rockets" at Israel's north "in response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on... civilians, most recently in Tayr Harfa."
Footage shows large fire burning in Kiryat Shmona, following Hezbollah’s rocket barrage. pic.twitter.com/dXVykITlaX
— Arya - آریا 🇮🇷 (@AryJeay) May 10, 2024
Tens of thousands of Israeli residents have fled their homes after months of constant rocket barrages.
Israel has also on a weekly and daily basis responded with large strikes on areas of southern Lebanon, including on villages and towns.
"Kiryat Shmona" settlement once again on fire from Hezb-Allah 35+ rocket barrage pic.twitter.com/C1axkCmrom
— julia m.k. (@bintmachgara) May 10, 2024
Israel's Fire and Rescue Services North District issued a statement saying, "The firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the flames along the residential line, while fire alarms continuously sound in the area."
"The combination of weather conditions and heavy barrages has led to multiple fire sites—a scenario we were prepared for and responded to with reinforced efforts,” Commander Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Yair Elkayam," it continued.
