Lior Shelef paints a vivid picture of life in the small Israeli kibbutz of Snir, nestled on the northern border with Lebanon.
“When you grow up here, the blood in your veins is a different temperature — it boils all day long,” he says.
This 48-year-old infantry veteran has witnessed more than his share of conflicts in this fiery region, which is a mere few hundred meters from the border bristling with Hezbollah militants.
Hezbollah, armed and funded by Iran, is the largest non-state army in the world.
With about 50,000 fighters, a massive stockpile of rockets, and thousands of drones, they pose a significant threat.
Despite their show of support for Hamas during its October 7 assault on Israel, Hezbollah has so far restricted its actions to the northern border.
The exchange of fire since October has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced 160,000 people, although the conflict has not overshadowed the Gaza war.
Recent weeks have heightened fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
This potential conflict could draw America into a direct confrontation with Iran and potentially spark a global conflict.
Following the killing of Hezbollah commander Mohammed Nimah Nasser in an Israeli airstrike, the group retaliated with over 100 rockets aimed at Israeli military positions.
The IDF has responded by moving significant forces northwards, including tanks, personnel carriers, and air force units.
Locals in the north, resigned to the likelihood of a broader war, report the severe consequences of the ongoing violence.
The Mail traveled to both sides of the border to document the devastation.
In northern Israel, towns have been ravaged, and agricultural lands destroyed.
The trauma of October 7, when Hamas’s brutal assault shocked the nation, has been compounded by ongoing rocket attacks from Hezbollah.
A Grim Reality
Before October 7, Sergeant Shelef was a tour guide.
He would show visitors the scenic Hula Valley to the south and the menacing presence of Hezbollah to the north.
Despite a UN resolution intended to keep armed militants away, Hezbollah’s growing arsenal and proximity to Israeli towns have rendered the peace fragile.
The situation has forced many, like Shelef, to evacuate, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods.
Devastation Across Borders
In Lebanon, the destruction is equally severe.
Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced, and over 400 have died. Fires have ravaged farmland, and civilian areas have been hit hard by Israeli airstrikes.
Reports from the ground reveal a tragic human cost, with many suffering from severe burns caused by white phosphorus, an illegal chemical weapon.
The Path Forward
For Israel, the pressure is mounting.
The prospect of continued instability and the looming threat of Hezbollah’s advanced military capabilities make the situation dire.
As the new school term approaches and families face the possibility of prolonged displacement, the urgency for a resolution grows.
Israel’s military readiness and diplomatic efforts are now at a critical juncture, with the possibility of a full-scale invasion of Lebanon hanging in the balance.
TDPel Media
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