Lebanon accuses Israel of looting and destroying schools as education crisis deepens
With over 500,000 children out of school and more than 11,000 buildings destroyed in the south, Lebanon urges international intervention to halt attacks on educational infrastructure.
Lebanon’s Education and Higher Education Minister, Rima Karami, has accused the Israeli military of looting and subsequently destroying three schools in southern Lebanon using explosives. In a statement reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Karami described the sites as having been reduced to “piles of ashes” following the removal of materials. This latest incident marks a significant escalation in the damage to the country’s educational infrastructure, bringing the cumulative total of completely destroyed schools in the region to at least 20.
The destruction of these facilities adds to a growing catalogue of casualties for Lebanon’s civil institutions. Prior to this report, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had confirmed in June that 17 schools were destroyed, with more than 100 others sustaining damage. The updated figures provided by Karami indicate a steady deterioration of the sector, leaving approximately 500,000 Lebanese children out of school. UNESCO has warned that such prolonged interruptions to education carry lasting consequences for the development and wellbeing of the country’s youth.
The conflict, which escalated into full-scale war in March following months of cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, has inflicted severe humanitarian and structural damage across southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks since the escalation have resulted in at least 4,324 deaths and 12,223 injuries. The casualty figures include 250 children, while more than one million people have been displaced. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that the broader conflict has led to the destruction of more than 11,000 buildings in the south since March.
Karami emphasised that the demolition of educational institutions is occurring “before the eyes of the entire world,” despite existing international commitments to protect schools during armed conflict. She called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to halt attacks on educational sites and to safeguard these institutions from military operations. The minister’s remarks highlight the tension between ongoing military actions and the preservation of critical civilian infrastructure.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have faced delays. Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated framework agreement on 26 June, which outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory linked to the disarmament of Hezbollah. However, the agreement does not establish a specific timetable for withdrawal. Israel maintains that its operations are targeted at Hezbollah, while the ongoing hostilities continue to disrupt daily life and governance in Lebanon.
