Israel Destroys Entire Residential Complexes in Beirut Suburbs

Amid the continuous Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, Dahieh has suffered widespread destruction to its dense urban fabric, where hundreds of thousands of people live, work, eat, and sleep. On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Hezbollah invited the media to examine the aftermath of recent Israeli strikes, as many of the affected sites had previously been difficult to access. The Public Source saw entire building complexes reduced to rubble by Israeli missiles, which Israel claims – implausibly – were targeted strikes on Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. In October 2008, Israel officially outlined what is now known as the “Dahieh Doctrine,” a tactic developed during its 2006 war on Lebanon. The doctrine involves the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure in neighborhoods that support the resistance, with the aim of forcing the population into submission. While Israel asserts that this strategy is intended to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, its implementation primarily affects key civilian infrastructure and is a violation of international law.