In a statement issued on Saturday, the Israeli military strongly condemned the actions of a group of soldiers who burned a Lebanese flag in southern Lebanon. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, shows approximately half a dozen individuals dressed in Israeli military uniforms engaging in celebratory behavior, culminating in one soldier setting fire to the flag with a lighter.
Military spokesman Avichay Adraee released a statement denouncing the act, characterizing it as a “violation of orders” and a stark contrast to the “values of the defence forces.” Adraee emphasized that the burning of the flag was “misaligned with the goals of our military activities in Lebanon.”
The statement, issued in both Hebrew and Arabic, clarified that the Israeli military’s conflict is solely directed at Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon. Adraee went further to differentiate Hezbollah from the Lebanese people, asserting that Hezbollah has “never been truly Lebanese in creed, ideology, or identity.”
While the military condemned the soldiers’ actions, it did not announce any specific sanctions against the individuals involved.
The statement was accompanied by a video, allegedly showing a Hezbollah militant tearing down a Lebanese flag and replacing it with the group’s banner. This act serves to highlight the complexities of the conflict, as both sides have been accused of desecrating national symbols.
The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began in late September, expanding from the Gaza Strip to Israel’s northern border, where Hezbollah operates. The escalation coincided with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. Hezbollah, a long-time ally of Hamas, launched low-intensity strikes on Israel in support of its fellow militant group, escalating the conflict on both fronts.
