Parents' Split-Second Call Saves 5-Year-Old in Kiryat Shmona Rocket Strike

(Credit: Spokesperson and Public Information, Kiryat Shmona Municipality)

A 5-year-old boy was saved overnight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) from serious harm after shrapnel struck his bed directly—while he was not in the room. The incident occurred when a rocket launched from Lebanon fell near the house.

The blast damaged the children’s room, and the force of the shockwave shattered the glass window. Shards of glass flew in all directions and landed inside the room—including on the bed and on the pillow the child sleeps on every night.

According to the details, the boy’s parents decided even before the siren sounded to move him to sleep in the safe room, out of concern about rocket fire. That timely decision prevented a major disaster. Had the child remained in his bed at the time of the explosion, the result could have been fatal.

Doron Shnefer, spokesperson for the Kiryat Shmona municipality, commented on the incident: "This is the reality of the residents of Kiryat Shmona; this is the reality of the children of Kiryat Shmona. Every day is a new miracle, and it is important that everyone knows how the children and residents of Kiryat Shmona live here."

This incident joins a series of events in the city as part of Operation "Shaagat Ha'ari", during which Kiryat Shmona has been taking fire from both Lebanon and Iran. Just last week, a man about 60 was seriously wounded by a direct rocket hit on his residential building in the city. In that incident, three other people were injured: a 68-year-old woman in moderate condition with a head injury, and about 20 others in light condition.