Catholic church leaders voiced strong objections Monday regarding reports that Israeli military forces have been tearing down civilian homes and religious structures in southern Lebanese territories they currently occupy, amid accusations that a convent was destroyed by bulldozers.
Lebanon’s Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops called upon both the Lebanese government and United Nations to safeguard civilian and religious properties, specifically highlighting the village of Yaroun where authorities claim Israeli forces demolished a Melkite convent this month alongside other structures. Church leaders described the destruction of these buildings, which occurred after area residents had fled, as creating “a deep wound in the national and human conscience.”
Israeli forces gained control of border regions in southern Lebanon during their current conflict with the Iranian-supported militant organization Hezbollah, leading up to a ceasefire agreement that took effect on April 17. Israeli officials state their objective is eliminating militants and their operational infrastructure throughout the region, requesting that local residents leave their villages for safety purposes.
According to Israeli military officials, they do not deliberately target houses of worship, but acknowledged in a Saturday statement that while eliminating Hezbollah infrastructure in Yaroun, they damaged a structure lacking religious markings and subsequently halted further destruction upon discovering its connection to a church.
Military representatives stated the Yaroun building was located within a compound previously utilized by Hezbollah fighters to launch rocket attacks against Israel, and they provided photographs showing an undamaged structure at the location.
Christian community leader Adib Ajaka from Yaroun informed The Associated Press that the images in Israel’s statement depicted a different building adjacent to the convent that contained a medical clinic and archbishopric, while Israeli forces had actually bulldozed the convent itself. He provided a photograph displaying debris beside the clinic building, which he identified as the convent’s remains.
Israeli military officials did not immediately respond Monday to inquiries regarding the convent demolition.
Ajaka, along with an unnamed Yaroun municipal official and Gladys Sabbagh, the superior general of the Basilian Salvatorian Sisters who operated the convent, all confirmed to The Associated Press that they received reports the convent was bulldozed during the civilian evacuation. The municipal official requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak with media.
French Catholic charity L’Oeuvre d’Orient criticized what they termed the “deliberate act of destruction of a place of worship and the systematic destruction of homes in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing the return of civilian populations.”
Additionally Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa informed reporters that a possible meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington should not be interpreted as a concession or defeat for Lebanon.
Former President Trump announced last month his intention to facilitate a meeting between Aoun and Netanyahu, though no date has been established. Lebanon has not officially confirmed Aoun’s participation in such discussions with Netanyahu.
Aoun faces significant domestic criticism from Hezbollah and allied groups who oppose direct negotiations with Israel.
The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah commenced March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, occurring two days after the United States and Israel initiated military action against the group’s primary supporter, Iran.
Since then, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes and begun a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, seizing multiple border towns and villages, while Hezbollah continued targeting Israeli territory — particularly northern communities — using missiles and drones.
Israeli military reported that two soldiers sustained injuries during a “close-quarters encounter with Hezbollah” in southern Lebanon Monday, marking the most recent incident threatening the tenuous 10-day ceasefire announced in Washington that began April 17 and was subsequently extended for three additional weeks.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported Monday that the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict has resulted in 2,696 deaths and 8,264 injuries.
