Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned "Israel" for committing apparent war crimes by repeatedly targeting reconstruction-related equipment and civilian facilities in southern Lebanon throughout 2025, despite a ceasefire that came into effect on November 27, 2024.
In a detailed report released from Beirut, the rights organization said the attacks violated the laws of war, obstructed post-war recovery, and prevented tens of thousands of displaced residents from returning to their homes. "The Israeli military’s repeated attacks on reconstruction-related equipment and other civilian facilities in southern Lebanon throughout 2025 violate the laws of war and are apparent war crimes," HRW stated.
According to the report, more than 10,000 buildings in southern Lebanon were heavily damaged or destroyed between October 2023 and January 2025. HRW said that rather than allowing reconstruction to proceed after the ceasefire, Israeli occupation forces continued to strike civilian infrastructure critical to recovery. "Amid the ceasefire, Israeli forces have carried out attacks that unlawfully target reconstruction-related equipment and facilities," said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.
"After reducing many of Lebanon’s southern border towns to rubble, the Israeli military is now making it much more difficult for tens of thousands of residents to rebuild their destroyed homes and return to their towns," Kaiss added.
HRW investigated four major attacks carried out between August and October 2025, months after the ceasefire took effect. These included strikes on heavy machinery showrooms and maintenance facilities in Deir Seryan, Ansariyeh, and Msayleh, as well as an attack on a cement and asphalt factory in Sinay. The strikes killed three civilians and injured at least 11 others.
Researchers visited the sites, interviewed 13 people, including site owners, mayors, a factory manager, a government contractor, and aid workers, and reviewed contracts and inventory documents. HRW found that the four attacks destroyed more than 360 heavy machines, including bulldozers and excavators, in addition to a major cement and asphalt factory. For each attack, "Israel" claimed the targeted equipment was linked to Hezbollah, asserting it "allowed," "enabled," or was "intended" to be used to rebuild the group’s infrastructure.
HRW said these claims were unsupported.
"Human Rights Watch did not find evidence of military targets in and around the sites," the organization stated, adding that while not every item’s use could be verified, researchers "did not find any evidence of their use for military purposes by Hezbollah."
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On the night of August 6, 2025, Israeli forces struck two bulldozer maintenance facilities in Deir Seryan, killing a Syrian worker and injuring two others. The strikes destroyed bulldozers, excavators, spare parts, and personal vehicles, and damaged nearby homes.
Owners estimated losses of $1.3–1.4 million. "We can’t even clear the rubble [from our sites] because we’re afraid that, if we clear it, more of the machines we’re using for rubble-clearing might be struck," said site owner Ibrahim Karim, adding: "So here, we’ve moved the rubble with our own hands."
HRW documented remnants consistent with a US-produced Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) at one of the sites.
"Israel" claimed it had struck “Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure,” but HRW said it found no evidence supporting that assertion.
On September 3, Israeli occupation forces struck a heavy machinery showroom and maintenance facility in Ansariyeh, destroying 46 machines and killing a Syrian man. Three others were injured. The owner, Mohammed Kiniar, said damages amounted to $3.6 million.
Mayor Abbas Fakih said drones hovered overhead throughout the day. "The drones must have seen them emptying the containers," he said, referring to newly imported equipment unloaded shortly before the strike.
"Israel" again claimed it targeted a Hezbollah site. HRW rejected the justification, stating it found no evidence of military objectives at or near the facility.
In the early hours of October 11, Israeli occupation forces carried out more than 11 strikes on multiple machinery showrooms in Msayleh, killing one Syrian national and injuring seven others. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported the destruction of more than 300 vehicles, including over 100 small “Bobcat” bulldozers.
HRW researchers documented extensive losses, including 139 machines worth $4.7 million belonging to the Tabaja family. JDAM remnants consistent with US-made weapons were also found. Israel claimed it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure, but HRW again said it found no evidence of military targets.
On October 16, Israeli forces attacked a large cement and asphalt factory in Sinay, one of Lebanon’s largest, established in 1992.
According to HRW, more than 10 strikes destroyed the entire 70,000-square-meter industrial site, causing losses exceeding $10 million and shutting down a facility employing around 60 workers. "After the ceasefire, we had about a 30 percent increase in our work, probably all related to reconstruction," the factory manager said, adding: "But we don’t ask people why are you buying this cement or this asphalt. We just sell it to them."
"Israel" alleged the factory supported Hezbollah activities, but HRW said it found no evidence of military use.
Citing customary international humanitarian law, HRW stressed that only objects making an effective contribution to military action can be lawfully targeted. "The mere possibility that equipment could be used in an undefined, future contribution for military purposes… does not constitute a legitimate military target," the organization said, warning that those ordering deliberate attacks on civilian objects may be responsible for war crimes.
HRW called on "Israel’s" allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, to suspend military assistance and arms sales to "Israel" and impose targeted sanctions on officials implicated in grave crimes.
It also urged Lebanon to pursue domestic investigations and accede to the International Criminal Court. "The return of tens of thousands of Lebanon’s displaced residents to their homes and villages hinges upon the ability of governments to press Israel to halt its attacks on reconstruction efforts," Kaiss said.
"They should immediately suspend arms to Israel and impose targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in ongoing grave crimes," he underscored.
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