Israel intensifies destruction in Mansouri in southern Lebanon — Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel has intensified explosions, house demolitions and bulldozer work in the coastal town of Mansouri in southern Lebanon, south of Tyre. In recent days, it has become one of the hardest-hit areas in the country’s south, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
According to the outlet’s count, more than 75 explosions were recorded in Mansouri from September 3 until midday Thursday, along with airstrikes and repeated artillery shelling. The greatest intensity was on Wednesday, when several dozen explosions occurred during the day. Another 12 were recorded on Thursday morning. This is a minimum estimate, as other explosions were reported without an exact count.
According to available information, Israeli forces have recently been using a remote method to destroy houses and residential neighborhoods: drones drop containers of powerful explosives onto rooftops, after which they are detonated. Similar tactics, the outlet notes, were also recorded in Bani Hayyan.
Mansouri’s strategic significance
Retired Brigadier General Hassan Jouni linked Israel’s attention to Mansouri to the geography of the area. In his assessment, the wooded terrain and the long corridor from north of Tyre to the border were previously actively used by Hezbollah and may contain various infrastructure. At the same time, he stressed that not every explosion is necessarily directed at such sites.
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In Jouni’s view, Israeli actions are more like altering the terrain to facilitate observation, surveillance and control than merely striking infrastructure. He suggested that some houses are being destroyed because of their location on elevations overlooking the surrounding area, and not necessarily because of the presence of ammunition there or the owners’ ties to Hezbollah.
Control by fire
Another retired brigadier general, Said Kazah, said that Israel is likely seeking to deprive Mansouri of cover and control the town from surrounding positions without deploying troops directly inside it. According to him, Majdal Zoun is situated on high ground southeast of Mansouri, while Bayada and Shamaa are to the south, allowing observation of the area.
Jouni also noted that the so-called Yellow Line in southern Lebanon is not a fixed boundary marked on the ground, but consists of mobile operational zones. He called Mansouri an important area between Israeli army positions in the western direction and Tyre.
