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SvennoJ on 17 February 2025
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Destruction of homes, infrastructure in Lebanon preventing people’s return: HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the destruction of towns and villages in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces is preventing tens of thousands of people from returning to their homes.

“Israel’s deliberate demolition of civilian homes and infrastructure and its use of explosive weapons in populated areas are making it impossible for many residents to return to their villages and houses,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at HRW.

“Even if their houses are still there, how can they return when there is no water, electricity, telecommunications, or health infrastructure?” Kaiss added.

HRW researchers found examples of infrastructure destroyed by Israeli attacks, including a water filtration and pumping station destroyed by an Israeli attack on Tyre on November 18, which disrupted water access to about 72,000 people.

While temporary adjustments to the network restored supply about a month later, the water station, which is the main source for people in Tyre and the surrounding areas, “needs to be rebuilt from scratch”, Kassem Khalifeh, the utility’s chief of supervision, told HRW.


A man fixes electricity cables next to a mosque destroyed in an Israeli attack in Tyre, November 30


Israeli tanks advance in southern Lebanese town

Activists and local Lebanese platforms on social media circulated this morning scenes of an Israeli military incursion into the town of Kfarchouba in the south of the country.

Local media confirmed that this incursion is considered the first since the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area, and it comes as Lebanese officials say they expect a quick withdrawal by the Israeli army.



Translation: A video clip showed the Israeli occupation tanks invading the town of Kfarchouba, south of Lebanon, this morning.


Israeli drone drops explosive near school in Lebanon’s Kfarchouba

An Israeli drone has dropped a hand grenade at the main square in the town of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA).

More footage has also emerged from the town near the border with Israel showing soldiers advancing towards its centre.

According to NNA, the Israeli army is currently setting fire to a number of houses in the town of Odaisseh near the border, where it has also burned homes in the past few weeks despite the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Lebanese sources are also reporting that an explosion was heard in Yaroun in the south.

One person killed in Israeli air raid on vehicle in Lebanon’s Sidon

The Israeli military has targeted another car with at least one person inside who was killed at the scene in the city of Sidon, according to local media reports. The identity of the driver remains unknown, and the Israeli army had no immediate reaction.



Qassam Brigades confirms official killed in Lebanon

The armed wing of Hamas has hailed Muhammad Ibrahim Shaheen, who as we reported earlier was killed by an Israeli drone strike in Sidon, as an influential figure in the Palestinian organisation.

Qassam Brigades said in a statement that he had a “pioneering role and special fingerprints” in the path of resistance against Israel, including during the war on Gaza.

The Palestinian group said as its members are killed across Palestinian and other territories, it affirms its steadfastness on the path of resistance “until the dream of our people for liberation and return is achieved”.