Israel damages religious building in Yaroun during southern Lebanon operations
Updated
Updated · Middle East Eye · May 2
Israel damages religious building in Yaroun during southern Lebanon operations
9 articles · Updated · Middle East Eye · May 2
Catholic charity L'Oeuvre d'Orient said Israeli troops destroyed a convent of the Salvatorian Sisters, while the military said only that a religious building was damaged.
The group called it a deliberate attack on a place of worship and linked it to wider demolitions in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing civilians from returning.
The incident comes despite an April 17 ceasefire, as Lebanon's state news agency said Israeli forces killed 2,659 people and wounded 8,183 between March 2 and May 2.
Amid conflicting claims, was a Lebanese convent a victim of war or a deliberate target?
As attacks on Christians escalate, is their ancient presence in the Holy Land facing erasure?
Yaroun Convent Damage Highlights 1.3 Million Displaced in Escalating Southern Lebanon War
Overview
In late April 2026, the Yaroun convent in southern Lebanon was heavily damaged during Israeli military operations amid ongoing conflict triggered by Hezbollah's rocket attacks in early March. The IDF claimed the damage resulted from targeting a building used by Hezbollah militants, while the Catholic Church denied any military presence, condemning the destruction as deliberate and part of a broader pattern of village demolitions. This incident occurred amid massive displacement of over 1.3 million Lebanese civilians and widespread devastation across southern Lebanon. The damage to the convent, a recognized cultural heritage site, sparked strong religious and international condemnation, highlighting the severe humanitarian toll and challenges in protecting cultural sites during the escalating conflict.