In his apartment in the hills of Geitawi, Beirut, Lubnan Baalbaki scrolls through photos of his house, now in ruins. “Here’s the video of the explosion. The Israelis placed bombs all over the village. Ours just exploded, on the right,” he says. On October 26, the Israeli army detonated several homes in Odaisseh, a village located just a kilometer from the southern border, causing widespread outrage in Lebanon. The Baalbaki family, known throughout the country and with several renowned artists among them, was particularly affected.

Destruction of Local Life Lubnan’s father, Abdul-Hamid Baalbaki, was an avant-garde painter also celebrated for his poetic works. He began building the Odaisseh home in the late 1980s, envisioning it as both a family retreat from Beirut and an art center for the region. In 2000, following Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, he moved there permanently. “He died in 2013, but my siblings and I often visited Odaisseh, where we kept his artworks and pottery collection,” shares Lubnan. “My father was buried beside my mother in the garden of the house. Now, everything is destroyed—even their graves.”

Since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel reignited in October 2023, the Israeli army has destroyed over a quarter of the buildings across 25 villages in southern Lebanon, according to satellite data analyzed by The Washington Post. At least eight villages have been completely leveled. Following Israel’s ground operation on September 30, several towns, like Odaisseh—captured by Israeli soldiers—were systematically demolished. “This wasn’t in the context of a battle,” says Lubnan indignantly. “They planted bombs and razed the village. They couldn’t ignore that our house was a cultural center; there’s an intent to erase the local cultural heritage.”

Lubnan Baalbaki, a member of a Lebanese family of artists, says that Israeli soldiers are not only demolishing buildings but aiming to eradicate their collective memory and prevent their return. Lubnan shows photos of the house before its destruction, imbued with his father’s artistic spirit: “This house was his life’s project. I grew up there and have wonderful memories of it. Now, this family history is in ruins. Israeli soldiers are not just destroying buildings—they are erasing our collective memory and trying to prevent us from ever coming back.”

In Lebanon, the war has displaced over a million people, some of whom now have no home to return to if the conflict ends. “The right to return must be a priority in any ceasefire agreement, and support for reconstruction will be essential,” says Ali Mourad, a law professor at Beirut Arab University (BAU), whose home in Aitaroun, near the border, was also destroyed by the Israeli army in October. “The destruction of entire villages is a grim omen. If people cannot go back to their homes, it will be another catastrophe with devastating consequences for the country. We have experienced too many displacements in Lebanon,” he notes. His father, Ahmad Mourad, a physician who lived in Aitaroun for nearly 25 years, fled to Beirut at the onset of the conflict. “Where will he live now?” wonders Ali. He is determined to “rebuild a new home” on his father’s land but fears he “may never be able to return to Aitaroun.”

Source : Le Soir.be

On November 5, 2024, Israel had already completely destroyed between 29 and 37 Lebanese border villages. These villages was razed by shelling or explosion, with the historical treasures that were there whose inhabitants are now refugees in their own country.

These 37 villages have been wiped out across a 120 km stretch from Naqoura to Shebaa. This systematic urbicide creating a no-life zone in South Lebanon.

The Israeli army has been booby-trapping and destroying entire neighborhoods in cities and towns in south Lebanon, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported on November 5. Entire streets and neighborhoods in 37 towns have been wiped out and homes have been destroyed. “More than 40,000 residential units have been completely destroyed. This is happening in an area three kilometers deep (from the border) that extends from Naqoura to the outskirts of Khiam”

Reasons of this destruction campaign

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the frontier in a bid to push the Iran-backed group away from the border and allow for its residents to return to northern Israel.

However, local officials in Lebanon allege that Israel is pursuing a "systematic destruction" campaign.

Lebanon’s National News Agency and its Human Rights Commission have condemned Israel’s actions, with the Commission labeling the destruction in at least eight villages as a "war crime." These claims are supported by satellite images and footage, reportedly showing systematic demolitions by Israeli forces since the cross-border hostilities renewed in late 2023.

The demolitions clearing Israel’s ‘first belt’ in Lebanon. Satellite & video analysis shows damage in 30 villages within 3km of the border. At least 12 have had lines of buildings destroyed in controlled detonations. This contributes both to a scorched earth policy but also to a buffer zone for tactical purposes. However, the precedent of urbicide committed in Gaza, and the indiscriminate destruction of archaeological, religious or cultural treasures, suggests a logic of ethnic cleansing.

“There are two reasons Israel is using this detonations strategy,” said retired Lebanese armed forces general Akram Kamal Srawi. The first is to clear lines of sight for potential incursions deeper into Lebanon in an area where Hizbollah maintains the upper hand and has caused significant losses for Israel. The second is that Israel has adopted a scorched earth strategy in order to wage psychological warfare on Hizbollah’s base people by televising these detonations and weaken support for the group — which will never work,” he added

Sources : 1 3 4 5

New satellite imagery analysis shows that in a 3-sq-mile area of southern Lebanon, covering Blida, Mhaibib, and southern Meiss el-Jabal, at least 296 buildings have recently been flattened; majority confirmed destroyed by Israeli military. This is a very conservative estimate.

The detroyed villages (Ongoing documentation)

Mais al-Jabal :

After the blowing up of the village by Israeli army, around 70% of Mais al-Jabal is reported to be destroyed, with numerous detonations causing extensive structural damage across the village. Homes were reduced to dust, and large blasts occurred near a vacated hospital. Four elderly residents, aged between 85 and 90, are reportedly trapped in the village, awaiting rescue due to the ongoing instability and destruction.

The village’s mayor, Abdul-Monhem Choukair, has accused Israeli forces of conducting a campaign of "systematic destruction," describing the destruction as deliberate.

The White Phosphorus Tracker (@Phosphor_Abyad) have verified and geolocated 25 White Phosphorus attacks over Meis Al Jabal, over the past year, making it the village most impacted by Israel’s deployment of WP in South Lebanon.

Baalbek

#Minister_of_Culture Sends New Appeal to UNESCO Director-General Regarding Israeli Aggression on People, Heritage, and Historical Sites Subject: Urgent Appeal for the Protection of Lebanese Cultural Heritage Following Recent Destruction Near the Baalbek Site

"Dear Ms. Audrey Azoulay, I write to you today with profound sadness, anger, and concern on behalf of the Lebanese Republic, government, and people, following a serious attack on our esteemed cultural heritage this evening. The Israeli aggression targeted the historic “Manshiyah” building in Baalbek, dating back to the Ottoman era and located near the Baalbek Fortress, causing severe damage in the recent attacks. This building held centuries of history and culture, standing as a living testament to our shared cultural heritage. The loss of this unique landmark, adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an irreparable loss, not only for Lebanon but for all of humanity’s heritage. The Manshiyah was an architectural and historical icon, embodying a living heritage for generations. Its destruction under the current circumstances is a profound loss to us all. We once again call on UNESCO to intervene urgently to protect the remaining heritage sites in Baalbek and the entirety of Lebanese cultural heritage, which faces escalating threats today. While Lebanon remains committed to international agreements, it urgently needs UNESCO’s active intervention to preserve its historical legacy amid the current circumstances. We hope that this message will receive your attention and immediate intervention and that we may work together to protect our precious cultural landmarks. Sincerely, Mohammad Wissam Al-Mortada Minister of Culture"