Columns of smoke rise in Lebanon as Israeli troops apparently blow up numerous buildings there. It is difficult to imagine how residents of these villages will return to their old lives.
According to security circles there, the Israeli army has almost completely destroyed several places in southern Lebanon. The German Press Agency learned from Lebanese security circles that the military blew up the town of Ramja near Bint Jubail in the border area. There was initially no official confirmation of this.
About a week ago, soldiers from the international UN mission observed several Israeli units advancing from Israel across the demarcation line into Lebanon. A few days ago, a photo circulated on social media showing Israeli soldiers apparently posing in front of the village’s municipal building.
Israel’s army has generally not released details about troop movements or strengths since it began its ground offensive in Lebanon in September. According to Israel, the aim of the operation is to destroy positions of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia near the border. This is intended to enable residents in northern Israel to return to their villages. They had fled the border area because of Hezbollah’s ongoing daily attacks since the start of the Gaza war over a year ago.
Satellite photos show the extent of the destruction
A week earlier, the Israeli army had destroyed another village, as the New York Times reported after analyzing videos and satellite photos. Soldiers blew up large parts of the village of Mhaibib, which is also in the border area. The place was most recently home to a shrine of Benjamin, son of Jacob, who is revered as a prophet in Islam and who is also mentioned in the Bible.
Israel’s military said it had “dismantled” a tunnel network used by the Hibsollah militia that ran through the “core of a village” in Lebanon. The military also released a video showing the demolition of the hilltop village.
According to Lebanese security circles, Jarun, Marun al-Ras and other villages in the border area were largely destroyed. The town of Nabatija in the southeast, a commercial center in the region, is also said to have been partially destroyed. The Israeli military urged residents of the Lebanese border area to flee at the start of its ground offensive.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
