Gaza War Reaches 1,000 Days: A Tragedy in Numbers

Israel has escalated its policy of wide-scale demolitions in southern Lebanon, with the army destroying sites in towns including Hadatha, Beit Yahoun, Kounine, al-Tiri, and Kfar Tibnit. These operations, occurring on Thursday and Friday, were accompanied by air strikes, artillery fire, and heavy air and drone activity. An Israeli drone attack in Siddiqin wounded two people.

The Israeli military stated it killed a Hezbollah member detected emerging from an underground facility and claimed its Givati Brigade had destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah infrastructure sites during an eight-month mission. Military spokesperson Ella Waweya reported air force strikes on approximately 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and the targeting of a truck carrying weapons.

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Rather, they fall within a military plan aimed at clearing the areas Israel now controls of any military infrastructure that could pose a future threat, especially tunnels, ammunition depots and facilities that could be reused.

These actions coincide with Lebanon's anticipation of the first phase of a "framework agreement" for gradual Israeli withdrawals. However, the ongoing demolitions and military presence have fueled speculation about Israel's true objectives. The extensive destruction suggests a potential effort to re-engineer the border area, removing any potential military threat and creating devastated zones where restoration would be difficult.

Retired Brig. Gen. Saeed Qozah believes the demolitions are part of a broader military plan to clear Israeli-controlled areas of any future threat, including tunnels and ammunition depots. He noted that the army is meticulously searching these areas to prevent armed groups from utilizing any remaining infrastructure should Israel withdraw.

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The Israelis have announced in recent days that they discovered tunnels in several areas. They had also previously blown up a large tunnel in Majdal Zoun, c