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Celerity

(55,272 posts)
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 06:36 PM 17 hrs ago

Construction equipment multinationals may be aiding Israeli war crimes, experts say

Exclusive: Images show Israeli military using six companies’ bulldozers and excavators to demolish south Lebanon villages

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/17/construction-equipment-multinationals-may-aiding-israeli-war-crimes-experts



Human rights experts have alleged that six multinational construction equipment conglomerates may be aiding and abetting war crimes by supplying excavators and bulldozers to Israel, after photos and videos showed the Israeli military using their equipment to demolish villages in south Lebanon. The Guardian geolocated and verified images showing the Israeli military using excavators made by six companies – Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, Doosan, Hitachi and Komatsu – to destroy homes, public utilities, shops and other structures across southern Lebanon.

Israel has levelled entire villages inside the “yellow line”, a 608 sq km area occupied by Israel along the Lebanese-Israeli border. At least 46 villages in south Lebanon have suffered heavy damage, most of it caused by demolitions carried out after the 17 April Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, according to a satellite analysis by Bellingcat. The Israeli military said it was destroying Hezbollah infrastructure, with Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, calling for “all homes in Lebanese villages near the border” to be destroyed to “remove threats”.

However, Human Rights Watch has said that Israel’s wide-scale destruction of villages could amount to wanton destruction – a war crime. Displaced residents have watched from afar as videos show craters and vast fields of rubble where their family homes once stood. Much of that destruction is being carried out by excavators and bulldozers produced and sold to Israel by foreign companies. Two pictures taken by the Associated Press on 12 and 15 April in the Lebanese border town of Mays al-Jabal show excavators from all six companies among flattened houses, as well as Hyundai, Caterpillar and Komatsu excavators actively destroying homes.

Videos from the Lebanese border towns of Naqoura and Debel in April also showed the Israeli military using foreign-produced excavators to destroy homes and other infrastructure. Surveillance footage captured the Israeli military using a Volvo excavator to destroy solar panels and water infrastructure in Debel, a key source of electricity and water for the residents of the besieged town. The Israeli military, commenting on the incident in Debel, said the actions seen in the video were “not in line with the IDF’s values”, and that the incident was under investigation.

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Construction equipment multinationals may be aiding Israeli war crimes, experts say (Original Post) Celerity 17 hrs ago OP
Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon... B.See 17 hrs ago #1
K & R DoBW 17 hrs ago #2
A culture of gaslighting and war criming. AloeVera 14 hrs ago #3
But they're investigating! Rob H. 8 hrs ago #4
First they have to consult their "Burn Your Villages" training manual. AloeVera 3 hrs ago #5

B.See

(9,049 posts)
1. Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon...
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 07:09 PM
17 hrs ago

like I said, Bibi wants it all. IMV, you either believe in a two state solution - the right for both sides to exist, or you don't. If it's the latter....

AloeVera

(4,599 posts)
3. A culture of gaslighting and war criming.
Sat Jun 20, 2026, 09:22 PM
14 hrs ago

"not in line with the IDF’s values”

After Gaza, they still say that with a straight face??!!

Rob H.

(5,998 posts)
4. But they're investigating!
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 04:03 AM
8 hrs ago

I’m sure they’ll be open and honest about what they find and punish those responsible.

AloeVera

(4,599 posts)
5. First they have to consult their "Burn Your Villages" training manual.
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 09:14 AM
3 hrs ago

And tighten up instructions on how to avoid media scrutiny. The authors of the manual will be punished for sloppy work.

Then they will get back to us on the 12th of Never.

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