"Gimme Shelter"- Israel Edition - Reporter's Notebook, Video, Maps
Hezbollah rocket fire at Israel continues, wounding several; IDF responds with an airstrike in Beirut, despite US demands to not hit the terror group's strongholds in the Lebanese capital
(Opening postscript: I started this account at 02:00, Wednesday morning, in the immediate wake of the Hezbollah rocket salvos noted below, and continued until 03:30; completing it midday - DB)
At 02:00 Wednesday morning, Iranian-backed Hezbollah monsters tried to murder Tzfat civilians in their sleep, including my stepson and daughter-in-law, and their 10, 8, and 3-year-old children.
Firing some 50 rockets into their city, Israeli aerial defenses - Iron Dome interceptors - rocketed into the skies over their startled heads to confront and, this time, succeed in foiling attempted mass-murder, and Geneva Convention-level war crimes against civilian areas.
One of my volunteer responsibilities happens to be sending out breaking WhatsApp alerts to English-speaking residents of nearby Tzfat from the Home Front Command and Municipality on security affairs:
”Wednesday 16 October. Yad Tishrei 1:43
“In the last few minutes, sirens sounded all over Safed. Troops are combing the city. There is concern that fragments of interceptors will fall throughout the city. Stay in the protected area for 10 minutes.
“If you encounter a hazard, you must stay away from it and report immediately to the 100 hotline or the municipal hotline 1-800-800-106.
“More updates coming soon.
Tamir Engel
Safed Municipality Spokesperson”
(Image courtesy: Shayna Rehberg-Paquin - Tzfat Community Resilience Team; damage video: Tzfat Municipality)
Our windows here - 20 minutes away - were shaking from the intensity of the multiple barrages of rocket strikes.
IDF spokesman:
"Following the alerts that were activated a short time ago in the Upper Galilee area, about 50 launches were detected that crossed into the country from Lebanon, some of them were intercepted, and crashes in the area were detected."
---
“Wednesday 16 October. 14 Tishrei 2:37
“Summary of missile barrage on Safed at 1:39 a.m.
"One fall in the yard of a house. Minor damage to the house from shrapnel
"MDA reports that 2 people were lightly injured while running to a protected area, who were evacuated to hospital.
"May we have a quiet night.
Tamir Engel
Safed Municipality Spokesperson"
Apologies to “Mick ‘n’ Keef’ for the title - it seemed appropriate, considering the circumstances:
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Warm regards,
David Bender
I appreciate your efforts, Dave, to share with us what is like to be there, with you. I am not aware of any other similar reporting. It really helps me. The not knowing can be hard. Thanks again, Dave.💕
For you from Psalm 4, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety".