In Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel, those who have not fled live under threat of Hezbollah attacks

In Israel’s northernmost town, Kiryat Shmona, most of the population fled to escape Hezbollah’s fire.

Hit back at Israel, whatever the consequences: that was the message from Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a speech on Tuesday, August 6. Since the start of the war, Hezbollah has opened a new front on Israel’s northern border. : daily exchanges of fire, drones, rocket launches… On Tuesday, 14 people were injured during these attacks.

Nearly 80% of the region’s population has fled since the start of the war to escape direct fire from Hezbollah. This is the case in Kiryat Shmona, Israel’s northernmost town, just five kilometers from the border. Of the 25 000 inhabitants before the war, there are now only one to two thousand people left.

As we approach Kiryat Shmona, traffic lights flash on empty roads. In the large, deserted shopping area, veterinarian Rami Perlstein waits among the aisles of the pet store. : “From the beginning I said I would stay until the end. Because I am a vet, and whether there is war or peace, I am here to take care of the animals. There are many people who live further south, just ten minutes away, and who are afraid to come to Kiryat Shmona, because after the hill over there, it is Lebanon.” Every day, the same program : “From 2 p.m. onwards, Hezbollah terrorists start shooting at us and it is better not to stay here after that time.”

“The authorities say we have 15 seconds to take cover. But, in fact, we hear the alert and one or two seconds after the siren, it falls.”

Rami Perlstein, Israeli veterinarian

to franceinfo

A few days ago, debris from a rocket hit his car. In one corner, a parrot waits in its cage. “We’ll get it back in two weeks,” the owners had said when they evacuated. Almost a year has passed, and they have never returned. A woman enters, in her arms, an old dog short of breath wrapped in a towel. Her name is Neta, she lives 20 minutes away. Her vet has gone to war : “I was terrified, I drove at full speed with my eyes fixed on the sky, the mountains. Last night, we had an attack. We were woken up at two in the morning by sirens, big explosions.”

His eldest son is a reservist, the second is in Gaza, the third was injured there at the beginning of the war. : “I’m not afraid, I’m furious. Because the world doesn’t understand what we’re going through. We’re attacked, we’re criticized, we’re hostile.” In the store next door, the air conditioning no longer works. Two days ago, a rocket hit the outdoor unit. The butcher’s shop opens to empty stalls. Khattar, the owner, has seen his 16 employees leave. He lives only thanks to deliveries to the Golan and it is not the small state subsidies that make up for the losses. Here, before, it was black with people. Khattar is tired : “It’s scary… You have to be on your guard, always be near a shelter. Listen to the authorities’ recommendations.”

In the distance, artillery fire rings out. Rami the veterinarian gets back into his car. Two hours later, new rockets will hit Kiryat Shmona.