Toll of Conflict: Israeli Rockets Ravage Lebanese Village

Israel-Lebanon: How Israeli rockets emptied a Mediterranean village in Lebanon The ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon has once again taken a toll on innocent civilians, with the village of Alma al-Shaab bearing the brunt of the recent escalation of violence. Situated close to the border, Alma al-Shaab has become a frequent target of Israeli forces, experiencing a barrage of rockets and drone strikes over the past nine months. The latest round of violence was sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel on 7 October, prompting Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon to launch rockets towards a disputed area along the border as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian group. In response, Israel intensified its military operations, unleashing a wave of attacks on Lebanon. By the end of May, Alma al-Shaab had been struck a staggering 188 times by Israeli forces, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The Beirut Urban Lab, supported by data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), reported the alarming frequency of attacks on the village. The Israeli army has justified its actions by claiming to target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure while retaliating against attacks on Israeli military bases in northern Israel. However, some Lebanese officials have accused Israel of employing scorched earth tactics, aiming to render the entire area uninhabitable. Despite the intensity of the attacks, no casualties have been reported in Alma al-Shaab. Nevertheless, the village has suffered significant material losses, with 10 houses completely destroyed, 120 others damaged, and vital infrastructure such as the main water tank hit during the bombardment, as confirmed by the deputy mayor, William Haddad. Moreover, the agricultural and forest lands surrounding the village, covering an expanse of 12 sq km (3,000 acres), have been ravaged by the fires ignited by the conflict, further exacerbating the plight of the villagers who rely on these resources for their livelihoods. While the villagers remain tight-lipped about the involvement of armed groups like Hezbollah in using their land for attacks on Israel, whispers suggest that efforts to deter fighters from utilizing the area have been unsuccessful. The situation in Alma al-Shaab serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions. As the violence continues to escalate along the Israel-Lebanon border, the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict becomes increasingly apparent to prevent further suffering and destruction in the region.