Videos shared on social media on Wednesday depicted the Israeli military demolishing a neighborhood in the southern Lebanese town of Mhaibib, a historic site home to a shrine over 2,100 years old. The town, located in the Marjaayoun district, approximately 115 kilometers (71 miles) from Beirut, holds significant religious importance as the resting place of Prophet Benjamin, the son of Prophet Jacob, according to the village head, Qassem Ahmed Jaber.
Jaber expressed uncertainty about the extent of the damage, attributing it to the evacuation of residents following repeated Israeli strikes in the area. The impact on the shrine and other ancient buildings remains unclear, and no official comment has been made by authorities yet.
Earlier this month, the Israeli army urged residents in 26 southern Lebanese towns, including Mhaibib, to evacuate, citing possible Hezbollah activities. Since September 23, Israel has intensified its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in over 1,500 deaths and displacing more than one million people. The offensive marks an escalation of the cross-border conflict that has worsened since Israel launched an operation in Gaza last year, which has claimed the lives of nearly 42,400 people, mostly civilians.
On October 1, Israel expanded the conflict by initiating a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
