Human Rights Watch has found Israeli occupation forces committing war crimes in southern Lebanon by deliberately targeting civilian construction equipment and infrastructure vital for post-war recovery.
In a report released Monday, HRW documented Israeli strikes between August and October 2025 that killed three civilians, wounded 11 others, and destroyed at least 360 bulldozers, excavators and heavy machines, along with a cement and asphalt factory.
The attacks have severely obstructed reconstruction efforts in southern Lebanon, where around 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving some 64,000 people displaced.
HRW found no evidence that the targeted sites had any military function, despite Israeli claims they were linked to Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities, UNIFIL peacekeepers and HRW researchers all said there were no military objectives near the struck locations. The group also identified remnants of US-made munitions, including JDAM components, at strike sites.
Concluding that the destruction was unlawful under international law, HRW called for an immediate halt to arms transfers to Israel and targeted sanctions on officials implicated in serious crimes, as Israeli attacks continue despite a ceasefire and amid ongoing international legal cases against Israeli leaders.
