Zionist media: More than 60% of structures in Metula damaged by Hezbollah
Despite the official conclusion of hostilities on the northern front, frustration continues to grow in Metula as the full extent of damages caused by Hezbollah remains unclear.
Israeli media has reported that over 60% of the structures in Metula have been hit and damaged by Hezbollah rockets. The settlement has endured relentless bombardment, facing daily rocket and anti-tank missile assaults over a span of 14 months.
Israeli media outlets have reported that the settlement has been declared a closed military zone following significant setbacks attributed to operations carried out by Hezbollah.
Moreover, more than 450 homes in the settlement were reported to have suffered damage to at least 60% of their structure.
Metula Mayor David Azoulay has expressed concerns regarding the current conditions in the settlement, stating, “We find ourselves in a highly complex situation, and the extent of destruction in Metula remains uncertain.”
In a statement reminiscent of the situation in the Har Tzvia neighborhood, which borders Odaisseh and Kfar Kila, Azoulay reported that at least 75% of the 100 homes in the region have been affected, with the majority sustaining damage severe enough to necessitate demolition.
In the northern region, over 20,000 damage claims have been submitted, according to Azoulay. He emphasized that the direct damage in the occupied north amounts to an estimated 2 billion shekels, equivalent to more than 550 million dollars.
Tank tracks have caused significant damage to the roads throughout the settlement.
Israeli news outlets have reported that the full impact of Hezbollah’s activities in recent months is now coming into sharper focus. This comes as some settlers begin to return to northern regions, where local authorities and residents are expressing widespread frustration.
Israel’s Channel 12 has disclosed information provided by the Ministry of Security, indicating that Hezbollah has caused 2,874 direct artillery impacts on settlements situated along the Lebanese border. This affected region extends from Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee Panhandle to Rosh Hanikra in Western Galilee.
The Property Tax Authority of the occupying entity has documented substantial damage, reporting that over 9,000 buildings and more than 7,000 vehicles have been completely destroyed as a result of fire from Hezbollah in settlements located in the northern regions of the Israeli-occupied territories.
It is important to note that these statistics do not account for numerous unreported damages in the northern region. These omissions are attributed to the displacement caused by settlers or due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces, rendering certain affected areas inaccessible.
In a related development, Channel 12 has reported “intense frustration among Israelis and local authorities in the northern region,” pointing to the absence of a structured strategy for the repatriation of settlers. Hedar Getsis, the network’s northern correspondent, highlighted “notable deficiencies in fortifications.”
Getsis further stated that the government has failed to offer any support for the northern region or its future prospects, emphasizing that “no decision has been reached regarding the post-ceasefire scenario” between Lebanon and Israeli forces. He highlighted that “no budget has been sanctioned for frontline communities,” where essential infrastructure such as schools remain underprepared, noting that “all these settlements, along with the Golan Heights, will not have school sessions tomorrow.”
