In Israel’s north, waiting for Hezbollah to attack
In the villages near the border with Lebanon, locals see a real war with the Iran-backed group as a matter of when, not if, even though an escalation would lead to enormous destruction on both sides
Sitting in a bunker in Kfar-Vradim in northern Israel, former software executive Sivan Yechieli, 60, says the war with Hezbollah has already started, and Israel is losing.
Carrying a rifle and dressed Volodymyr Zelensky-style in a T-shirt and military fatigues, Yechieli is the first line of defence for this wealthy town of 7000, around 14 kilometres from the Lebanon border. Similar volunteer “militias” have sprung up across Israel’s north in response to October 7, when 3000 Hamas terrorists invaded in the south, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostages (120 remain in Gaza, 50 are estimated to be alive).
Fiona BuffiniPremium Content, Features EditorFiona Buffini is editor of Premium Content and Features. She is the former Editor of The Australian Financial Review, digital editor and news director. Email Fiona at fbuffini@afr.com
