‘The aim is to erase our identity’: How south Lebanon’s cultural heritage is going up in smoke
Summary
The Israeli army has been demolishing buildings in southern Lebanon to create a buffer zone against Hezbollah attacks. An NGO called Green Southerners says this campaign is destroying important cultural and religious sites, including churches, mosques, and schools in various villages.Key Facts
- A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began on April 19, 2026.
- Since then, Israel has set up a "forward defence zone" in southern Lebanon covering 55 villages.
- Lebanese civilians are not allowed to enter this zone.
- The Israeli army is demolishing buildings using bulldozers and explosives.
- Israel says it targets only Hezbollah infrastructure and avoids civilian and religious buildings.
- Green Southerners, a Lebanese NGO, reports many religious and historic sites have been damaged or destroyed.
- A convent and school run by the Salvatorian Sisters in Yaroun village was bulldozed on May 1, 2026.
- Nearby, the 19th-century Saint George church and Imam Ali mosque have been seriously damaged in previous strikes.
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