Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of destroying reconstruction equipment in Lebanon

Human Rights Watch confirmed on Monday that repeated attacks by Israeli forces on reconstruction equipment and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon during 2025 violate the laws of war and constitute potential war crimes.

The organization stated that these attacks have hampered efforts to rebuild homes damaged in previous conflicts and have resulted in the destruction of more than 10,000 buildings between October 2023 and January 2025, preventing tens of thousands of displaced people from returning to their homes.

Ramzi Qais, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted that Israeli forces deliberately targeted heavy equipment, machinery, and civilian facilities, including bulldozers, excavators, and a cement and asphalt plant, killing three civilians and injuring 11 others between August and October 2025.

The organization added that all the targeted sites were used for civilian purposes, and its research teams found no evidence to suggest that the equipment was being used for military purposes, despite Israeli claims linking it to Hezbollah.

Human Rights Watch warned that the continuation of these attacks makes all heavy machinery and civilian factories potential targets, and called on the international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, to pressure Israel to halt the attacks, stop supplying weapons, and impose targeted sanctions on those responsible.

The organization also called on Lebanese authorities to open domestic investigations into these attacks and to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including the period since October 7, 2023, to ensure accountability for potential crimes.

Qais said: "The return of tens of thousands of displaced people depends on the ability of governments to pressure Israel to stop its attacks on reconstruction efforts and to impose sanctions on those responsible for these violations."

ANHA