Israeli Troops are Looting Expensive Items from Homes & Shops in Southern Lebanon; Haaretz
LEBANON – Israeli troops are looting expensive items from homes & shops in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday.
The newspaper said that it received a message from a reserve soldier after publishing several news reports about soldiers looting homes and businesses in southern Lebanon, claiming he witnessed the theft of gold bars.
However, he claimed that the Israeli military was unaware of the specific incident, the daily said, adding that the military has launched an investigation into the looting incidents.
The looting of property is not a new phenomenon within the Israeli military. Multiple Israeli reports over the past two years have documented widespread theft during the war in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 8, 2023.
Israeli soldiers also revealed that their colleagues had looted large quantities of civilian belongings from houses and stores in southern Lebanon with the knowledge of their military commanders, Haaretz reported.
The Israeli army announced it has taken full control of 55 villages in southern Lebanon within what it calls the “yellow line,” barring displaced residents from returning and targeting anyone who approaches the area.
“The accounts describe the theft of motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas, and rugs on a wide scale, which has become routine. Both senior and junior commanders on the ground are said to be aware of the phenomenon but are not taking disciplinary action to curb it,” the daily said.
It added that this phenomenon is more widespread among reserve soldiers.
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, in response to Haaretz’s previous report, ordered a military police investigation into the looting in southern Lebanon, the newspaper reported.
“He also instructed the reinforcement of military police forces at all entry and exit points along the border and ordered thorough inspections of every vehicle entering and leaving the combat zone,” it added.
The Israeli army has killed more than 2,475 people, injured nearly 7,700, and displaced over 1.6 million in attacks across Lebanon since March 2.
US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been extended by three weeks following ambassador-level talks at the White House.
The US-brokered 10-day ceasefire, which began on April 16, has been extended for another three weeks on Thursday, following talks between the Lebanese and Israeli governments in Washington.
