Israel's 'Domicide' Tactics in Lebanon Echo Gaza Destruction, Rights Groups Warn
The Israeli military has demolished entire villages in south Lebanon through mass remote detonations, rigging homes with explosives and razing them to the ground, in a tactic rights groups fear mirrors the 'domicide' strategy used in Gaza. This approach, which involves systematically destroying civilian housing to make entire areas uninhabitable, has sparked international concern over potential war crimes.
Mass Detonations Along the Border
Videos reviewed by The Guardian show Israel carrying out controlled explosions in the villages of Taybeh, Naqoura, and Deir Seryan along the Israel-Lebanon border. Lebanese media reports additional mass detonations in other border villages, though satellite imagery to verify these claims is not readily available. The demolitions follow Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz's call to destroy "all houses" in border villages, citing a model previously used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, where 90% of homes were destroyed.
Israel claims these actions target Hezbollah infrastructure, such as tunnels and military facilities embedded in civilian homes. However, the military has announced plans to occupy vast swathes of south Lebanon, establishing a "security zone" up to the Litani River, and has stated that displaced people will not be allowed to return until the safety of Israel's northern cities is guaranteed, raising fears of long-term displacement.
Rights Groups Condemn Potential War Crimes
Human rights organizations argue that these mass remote detonations could constitute wanton destruction, a war crime under international law. The laws of war prohibit the deliberate destruction of civilian homes except when necessary for lawful military reasons. Ramzi Kaiss, the Lebanon researcher for Human Rights Watch, emphasized, "The possibility that Hezbollah may use some civilian structures in Lebanon's border villages for military purposes does not justify the wide-scale destruction of entire villages along the border."
Personal Stories of Loss and Displacement
For residents of border villages, the detonations have erased not only homes but also generations of memories. Ahmad Abu Taam, a 56-year-old construction supply shop owner from Taybeh, described watching his town square explode, saying, "I felt that I had become a refugee. I feel like I have no home." After being displaced in the 2024 Hezbollah-Israel war, he had joyfully returned to rebuild, but now everything is gone.
Ahmad Ibrahim, a 50-year-old farmer from Deir Seryan, mourned the loss of his home and the springtime traditions his children will miss. "The children remember the good times – spring and summer evenings, going out to the fields, collecting flowers and herbs," he said. Similarly, Dr. Mohammed Hashem, a 65-year-old doctor, saw his Luna motel in Naqoura destroyed after 15 years of hard work to build it, receiving an outpouring of support from former customers.
Impact on Diaspora and Cultural Heritage
These villages have long served as anchors for scattered families worldwide, with the diaspora returning during holidays and doubling populations. Abu Taam noted, "People would build houses worth a million dollars just to stay for a week or 10 days a year. The village becomes the centre of the family." With the destruction, many feel a deep sense of frustration, as if their identity and heritage have been erased. The tactic of domicide, as described by academics, not only displaces communities but also severs cultural ties, leaving a lasting impact on Lebanon's social fabric.
