Israeli news website Ynet has reported that fires are continuing to rage in multiple locations across the Israeli-occupied northern territories following a day of intense confrontations.
The largest settlement in the area, Kiryat Shmona, has been impacted, with fires spreading dangerously close to housing units as a result of Hezbollah rockets.
⚡️⚠️ Hebrew sources: Kibbutz Giladi is about to burn completely and all the avocado farms have been burned pic.twitter.com/rR6FOGZPWJ
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) June 3, 2024
Local authorities have been forced to evacuate settlements in Galilee as firefighters work to contain the blazes. Residents in Kiryat Shmona and Margaliot have been ordered to evacuate.
⚡️🔥 Kyriat Shmona and various areas in Western Galilee a few moments ago – burning from Hezbollah's fire from #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/dyuxtBKEq0
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) June 3, 2024
In total, 15 fire hotspots have been reported in the occupied Golan and Galilee regions, exacerbated by particularly high temperatures. Israeli authorities have blocked the main road linking the north to the rest of the occupied territories.
https://twitter.com/TVManar1/status/1797744784939069509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1797744784939069509%7Ctwgr%5E59f60f9893ebce9ed49daecc7ac8c8c78ea6dbbb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fenglish.almanar.com.lb%2F2125213%3Fs%3Dtg
The ongoing fires have not only led to evacuations and property damage but have also highlighted a growing rift between local authorities and Israeli leaders. Amid the crisis, opposition leader Yair Lapid has criticized the government for its lack of planning and strategy in response to the fires.
Lapid: The north is going up in flames and Israeli deterrence is burning with it
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said at dawn on Tuesday that “the north is on fire, and Israeli deterrence is burning with it.”
Yair Lapid added in a blog post on the “X” platform, “The government has no plan for the next day in Gaza, no plan to return the population to the north, no management, and no strategy.”
The Israeli opposition leader added: “A government of complete chaos.”
Lapid published an article in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, which stated, “Fire is burning in houses in Kiryat Shmona, a major fire is in Amiad, and the main road to the north is closed.”
The article also states that “the northern square is still boiling after heavy bombardment on the Golan and the launching of drones into the Galilee,” noting that fires have flared up again in the Rumim mountain range in Kiryat Shmona.
Source: Agencies (edited and translated by Al-Manar English Website)
