Israeli officers and soldiers have acknowledged carrying out widespread destruction of buildings in villages in southern Lebanon, saying their mission goes beyond targetting Hezbollah infrastructure.
Since March 2, Israel has waged an offensive on Lebanon that has killed at least 2 534 people, wounded 7 863 and displaced more than 1,6 million — about one-fifth of the population — according to official figures.
A 10-day ceasefire that began April 17 was later extended until May 17, but Israel continues to violate it daily through airstrikes and the demolition of homes in southern Lebanon.
While the Israeli army has released footage of large-scale demolitions, claiming it is targetting “Hezbollah infrastructure,” soldiers cited by Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the reality is different.
Quoting unnamed field soldiers, the newspaper reported Wednesday that “much of what they do now isn’t directly fighting Hezbollah, but systematically destroying buildings in villages in southern Lebanon”.
“The only mission is to continue the destruction. There is no other mission,” an Israeli officer said.
Another added that, contrary to the army’s claims, “it isn’t terrorist infrastructure; we’re destroying everything.”
According to the daily, the army refers to its plan to demolish “Shiite villages” in southern Lebanon as “Operation Silver Plow”.
“As part of this plan, a polygon is marked out for each of the units in the area showing the section they are responsible for razing,” the newspaper said.
“At the end of every day, there’s an assessment of what was accomplished, and every commander is required to report how many homes he destroyed.”
Haaretz said each unit is allocated bulldozers operated by civilian contractors that it is required to protect.
“Soldiers and officers in the field say the drone threat is worse when they are in open areas and when they are moving,” it added.
“The problems arise when the forces are in the open and cannot protect themselves properly. And most of the work of demolishing homes in Lebanese villages takes place in open areas, leaving the soldiers vulnerable.”
One soldier involved in the operations said: “We stand there, exposed, and guard the demolition of homes while drones are in the air. There’s no logic to this.”
“At the end of every day, there’s a report on how many homes were destroyed,” another officer said.
Soldiers also told the newspaper said the civilian contractors are paid based on how much they demolish.
“We’re there to guard them, risking our lives,” one soldier said.
The report comes as Israel moves to expand buffer zones beyond its borders, similar to measures taken in Gaza and Syria.
In April, the Israeli army announced the imposition of the so-called “Yellow Line” south of the Litani River, a notional boundary designing the area stretching to the border as a “security buffer zone,” in a step reminiscent of the Gaza model.
According to Israel, the zone is intended to prevent displaced residents from returning and to target any armed activity, classifying it as a “combat zone” not subject to ceasefire understandings. The move suggests an attempt to entrench a new reality on the ground while preemptively justifying future attacks in the area. – AA