[News] Israeli officers say Lebanon mission focused on 'systematic destruction' of buildings

[Anti-Imperialist News]

middleeasteye.net
<https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-officers-say-lebanon-mission-focused-systematic-destruction-buildings>
Israeli officers say Lebanon mission focused on 'systematic destruction' of
buildings
Mera Aladam By Philip Weiss <https://mondoweiss.net/author/philweiss/> April
29, 2026
------------------------------

Troops tell Haaretz the only task is the destruction of everything in
predominantly Shia villages
[image: An Israeli soldier walks near a military vehicle, on the Israeli
side of the Israel-Lebanon boundary, 26 April 2026 (Shir Torem/Reuters))]

An Israeli soldier walks near a military vehicle, on the Israeli side of
the Israel-Lebanon boundary, 26 April 2026 (Shir Torem/Reuters)

Published date: 29 April 2026 15:05 BST | Last update: 2 hours 15 mins ago

The Israeli <https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel> army's mission
in southern Lebanon
<https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/israel-war-lebanon> is now focused on
the “systematic destruction” of buildings rather than combat, officers have
told Haaretz
<https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2026-04-29/ty-article/.premium/0000019d-d4ca-d0b7-abdf-f6cb81380000>
.

According to the report on Wednesday, the military is operating under a
plan to demolish predominantly Shia villages in an effort they believe
would prevent residents from returning.

As part of the campaign, troops are assigned designated zones to demolish,
with commanders required to record the number of structures destroyed each
day.

“The only mission is to continue the destruction,” one commander told
Haaretz. “There are no other tasks.”

Another officer disputed Israeli military claims that operations are aimed
at destroying “terrorist infrastructure”, saying: “These are not terrorist
infrastructures - everything is being destroyed.”

However, a separate officer said there is no blanket order to demolish all
structures, insisting the focus is on underground networks, weapons, and
surveillance and communications systems.

“We are operating pragmatically, according to operational need,” he said.

According to Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research
<https://hic-mena.org/activitydetails.php?id=qWhlZw==>, around 40,000
housing units have been partially or completely destroyed since the
beginning of March. On some days, more than 1,000 homes have been damaged
or flattened, with entire neighbourhoods bombed.

Drone footage posted online has shown entire villages in southern Lebanon
rigged and destroyed in controlled explosions by the military.
Private contractors

Several soldiers told Haaretz that demolitions are being carried out by
private contractors, who are paid according to the scale of destruction.

“The companies profit based on the number of houses [destroyed],” one
soldier said. “And we’re there to provide security, at risk to our lives.”

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Another said there is “no logic” behind the missions, as soldiers face
increased exposure to Hezbollah drone attacks while securing demolitions.

“We stand exposed, guarding demolitions while drones are in the air,” he
said.

Since 2 March, Israeli forces have killed at least 2,290 people in Lebanon,
including 100 rescue workers and healthcare personnel, and wounded 7,544,
according to the Lebanese health ministry. Around 1.2 million people have
been displaced nationwide.

Although a truce was announced by the US in mid-April, Israeli strikes on
Lebanon have continued, prompting renewed fighting with Hezbollah.

Israeli forces also remain stationed up to around 10km inside Lebanese
territory, with continued reports of strikes on civilians and ongoing
demolitions.

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