Israel ‘just wanted to destroy’ in southern Lebanon, despite the trial | Israel attacks Lebanon
Naqoura, southern Lebanon – Dressed in an olive green jacket and jeans, the municipal head of Abbas Awada stood next to the remains of a family home where he had lived with his wife and two children for the last 15 years.
Mecca, charismatic, 40, who welcomed Awada residents of the city in a family home and hosted a large family gathering with her wife.
The house survived for more than a year of war, including an invasion of 66 days, which is why Israeli air attacks destroyed most of the Lebanese infrastructure.
After the interruption between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah began in November, Israeli forces demolished the home where Awada’s children grew up.
From the moment Hezbollah and Israel began to fight on October 8, 2023, until the truce began on November 27, 2024, Israel killed almost 4,000 people and left waves of destruction throughout Lebanon, especially in the south.
And, despite the interruption, the Israeli army continued to attack Lebanon.
Just a ‘truce’ only on behalf of?
According to an agreement on the termination of fire, which was initially set for a lasting 60 days, Hezbollah was to be withdrawn north of the Litana River, which moves across South Lebanon. Israel also had to pull his troops from Lebanon, and the Lebanese armed forces (LAF) were supposed to take the south.
Many in Lebanon believed that the truce would push Israeli attacks. But Israel continued to attack, justifying his actions as an attempt to “dismantle and destroy” Hezbollah, a self -proclaimed goal.
Among his actions was the deliberate destruction of homes in the southern villages such as Naqour, devastating people who fled from violence and hoped he would return to their homes when he stopped.
“I still see it how it is,” Awada said quietly, watching his home.
He pointed to the entrance and described the look of the house. Where he said that the kitchen and dining room once stood a bunch of concrete and steel – the Israeli bulldozer knocked down the walls of his home.
Television was still standing among the wrecks, mounted on the exposed wall of the living room and full of bullet holes.
“They just wanted to destroy,” he said.
He has not yet taken his children at the age of 11 and 14, to see the ruins.
A legal plan, a non -profit research and advocacy organization based in Beirut, revealed that Israel had committed more than 855 violations by the end of January.
Ameneh Mvadar, a senior analyst in the Middle East for Acled, an organization that collects conflict information, told Al Jazeera that she had recorded “over 330 air strikes and shelling incidents from a certificate.”
Withdrawal that was not
Naqoura, which lies exactly on the southern Lebanese border, suffered serious damage during the war, but was not attacked at the time when the truce began.
In mid -December, Israeli troops entered Naqour and reports began to appear that they were destroying houses and buildings there and in other villages in southern Lebanon.
The extraction of Israeli was to end until January 26. But despite the rejection of the Lebanese government, the Israelis announced – with the support of the United States – that their presence will be extended until February 18th.
On Monday, Israel announced that “in Lebanon” would leave small amounts of troops arranged in five strategic points. “
In early January, the Israelis retreated from Naqoure, allowing residents to see what was left of their village and homes after random violence that had hit them.
‘They used bulldozers for revenge’
In a winding street behind the Naqour municipality building, 75-year-old Ali Shaabi still mourn his fruit trees and deliberate damage that glued them.
He crossed his garden through the ruin, explaining that he did not stop watering his trees until he had to evacuate.
“I didn’t leave them,” he said, a cigarette and his yellow lighter who never left his hands.
The grapes are hanging from one tree, but the mango tree lies on the ground nearby. Israeli soldiers demolished him during a truce, a strategic goal unknown.
Standing on the front porch of the carbon home where he lived with his wife, children and grandchildren, he explained that this was set on fire, with the fact that the above is unavailable because the stairs are destroyed.
Shaabi remained behind the house when the rest of his family fled to the tire during the war. Civil defense workers finally evacuated him last September when Israeli attacks on Lebanon enhanced themselves, and he joined his family.
His house was fine when he left her, he explains, and he was damaged only during a ceasefire. Now the cellar and the upper floors are carbonated, and the entire structure must be supported by columns.
“They got bulldozers,” he said. “They entered Naqour with bulldozers, for revenge.”
The family even found some of their clothing for pieces, probably hung by Israeli soldiers and shot in.
Naqouri is a predominantly Shiite city, demographic, among which Hezbollah traditionally enjoys great support. In fact, the flags of Hezbollah are planted in the ruins of some destroyed Naqour buildings.
Nonetheless, the destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure is forbidden by international law, and many Lebanese considered it a non -select punishment against Shiite communities across Lebanon.
“Not all Hezbollah,” Shaabi said. “Shia is not always Hezbollah.”
‘I miss my village’
Getting news about whether your home was still stood it was difficult during the war, but some villagers, like Reem Taher, thought of paying regular satellite images of their neighborhoods to see what was happening.
Before the war, Taher was running the job of a beautician, but he had to escape the tire when a bombing began.
The pictures she paid showed that her home were intact, including November 26, the day before the fire was interrupted.
But at 11 o’clock on November 27 she received another report. After surviving a year of Israeli air attacks, her home was now in ruins.
“They released my house, leveled my country and even enjoyed a decrease in trees,” she told Al Jazeera in a house for rent to Tire’s Hosh neighborhood, an area that also saw his fair share of destruction. The building across the road was straightened.
“I miss the coffee in the morning by the sea. I miss our gatherings and the evening in the garden. I miss the call to prayer from my village, Ramadan night … Choosing Clementine from the tree.
“I miss everything about my village – sunset, pines and splendor of the sea from far away.”
‘This truce is a lie’
On February 13, when Al Jazeera visited Naqour, almost every home was reduced to piles of wreckage and infrastructure lying in the ruins.
The electricity pillars were drawn from the country, the local school was greased with bullet holes, and the corpse of the burnt vehicles were abandoned.
“They destroyed the mosque, the cemetery and the infrastructure – roads, water, electricity. Everything that provided funds for life, they destroyed,” Taher said.
Some homes were commanded by Israeli soldiers, who left them full of packaging of food and supplies brought from Israel.
The walls were covered with Hebrew writing, mainly with shift schedule. But on one refrigerator, the soldier left the message: “We came to drive away the dark.”
Sadan, AL JAZEER VERIFICATION AGENCY, compared satellite paintings from December 3, 2024 and 19 January 2025.
Pictures of December 3 show many buildings, including Awada’s house and municipality building, with little visible damage.
Pictures of January 19 show destroyed structures, including Awadin home.
ACLED recorded 14 cases of Israeli army that carried out controlled explosions and bulldozing homes in Naqouri between December 11, 2024 and 6 January 2025. According to their data, each incident included more than one house.
Sitting on what was left of his porch, Shaabi chain blew up, surrounded by his family and grandchild.
For many in Naqouri, the promise of a tribute has brought hope to return home. They never thought their homes would be damaged or destroyed during a ceasefire.
Between blowing, Shaabi said, “This truce is a lie.”
