{"id":58915,"date":"2026-04-24T02:33:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=58915"},"modified":"2026-04-24T02:33:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T10:33:40","slug":"idf-soldiers-say-commanders-turning-blind-eye-to-lebanon-looting-on-a-crazy-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/24\/idf-soldiers-say-commanders-turning-blind-eye-to-lebanon-looting-on-a-crazy-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"IDF Soldiers Say Commanders Turning Blind Eye to Lebanon Looting \u2018On a Crazy Scale\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

While media coverage of Israel\u2019s war on Lebanon mainly focuses on the slaughter of hundreds of Lebanese civilians and destruction of entire villages<\/a>, Israel Defense Forces commanders are tacitly condoning widespread looting by their troops in Lebanon, according to reporting Thursday.<\/p>\n

Haaretz<\/em>, Israel\u2019s oldest daily newspaper, interviewed a number of IDF personnel who described<\/a> routine theft of items including motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas, and rugs from the homes and businesses of some of the more than 1 million Lebanese forcibly displaced<\/a> by Israel\u2019s assault on its northern neighbor.<\/p>\n

Israel has seized control of more than 50 villages in southern Lebanon as part of its expanding so-called \u201cYellow Line<\/a>,\u201d with residents who cross it risking their lives<\/a>. Their absence offers IDF troops the opportunity to loot with no Lebanese resistance.<\/p>\n

The looting of civilian homes and businesses is formally known as \u201cpillage\u201d and is strictly prohibited<\/a> under numerous Israeli and international laws and conventions. However, according to the IDF soldiers and officers interviewed by Haaretz, senior and junior commanders know about the pillaging but are not punishing offending soldiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on a crazy scale,\u201d one soldier said. \u201cAnyone who takes something \u2013 televisions, cigarettes, tools, whatever \u2013 immediately puts it in their vehicle or leaves it off to the side, not inside the army base, but it\u2019s not hidden. Everyone sees it and understands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soldiers interviewed said commanders\u2019 responses range from turning a blind eye to prohibiting looting but not punishing offenders.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our unit, they don\u2019t even comment or get angry,\u201d one soldier claimed. \u201cThe battalion and brigade commanders know everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another said that \u201cbattalion and brigade commanders do speak up and get angry, but without action, those are empty words.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some IDF soldiers have even posted videos of their looting on social media \u2013 usually with no consequences.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udde7IDF soldiers reportedly filmed looting homes in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The video shows troops taking belongings from civilian houses during the ground operations.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s campaign has displaced over 1 million Lebanese in under three weeks\u2026pic.twitter.com\/RRgjX8T9Rb<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/iGcjA9NbXt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n