Exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army continued this Saturday March 9 at the border between the two countries. Israeli bombings caused a major fire in one of the largest forests in southern Lebanon, where the damage caused by five months of combat was significant.
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With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh
The flames reduced hundreds of olive trees, pines and oaks to ashes in the Labbouné forest, not far from the coastal town of Naqoura, which houses the headquarters of UNIFIL peacekeepers. Two-thirds of this forest, one of the most important in the south of Lebanonhave already gone up in smoke due to the clashes that have shaken the Lebanese-Israeli border since October 8, 2023.
Phosphorus ammunition
The incendiary shells and white phosphorus munitions used by the Israelis destroyed six million square meters of woods and orchards, including more than 80,000 olive trees. Dozens of more or less important Lebanese localities are, every day, in the sights of the Israeli army, which deploys great land and air firepower.
The Southern Council estimates that 900 buildings were completely destroyed and 10,000 homes seriously damaged in southern Lebanon; 20% of these houses are “ uninhabitable » and risk “ collapse », Explains Hachem Haïdar, the president of this official body responsible for the development of the southern part of Lebanon.
Destroyed agricultural machinery
Israeli bombings also destroyed hundreds of cars and agricultural machinery in this area. region where working the land constitutes one of the main economic activities.
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