Attacks affecting Lebanese industry in the 2006 Lebanon war

Aftermath of IDF attack on the Saleh commercial center, Ghaziyeh, Sidon. Courtesy of Masser

Attacks affecting Lebanese industry in the 2006 Lebanon War included:

• The Israel Defense Forces bombing of a dairy processing plant, the country's largest dairy farm Liban Lait in the Bekka area which employed 200–250 permanent workers and around 400 workers involved in distribution. The plant distributed milk to the entire region.
• The IDF bombing of the Maliban Glassworks in Tannayel which employed between 380 and 400 workers.
• The IDF bombing of Dalal Industries, a factory which products included prefabricated homes. It employed 400 workers directly.
• The IDF bombing of a warehouse in southern Beirut belonging to Transmed, which is one of the biggest distribution companies in the region, a dealership for Procter & Gamble and was reportedly worth $30 million. The bombing caused $10 million in property and stock damage.
• The IDF bombing of a farm produce warehouse at Qaa on the Syrian border killing 33 farm workers and wrecking the facility. See also 2006 al-Qaa airstrike.
• The IDF bombing of two electricity transformers in south Lebanon on August 11 cutting off power to the city of Tyre.
• The IDF bombing of the fuel tanks of an oil-fired power station in Jiyeh (see Jiyeh power station oil spill). The power station accounted for up to 15% of Lebanon's total power capacity.

Cost of damage to industry

On August 10, a report from the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) said that the IDF bombing campaign had destroyed more than 900 small and medium enterprises with damage to Lebanon's civilian infrastructure estimated close to $2.5 billion US. The material damage to the private sector was estimated at $200 million with an anticipated increase in that figure due to cancelled contracts.

Other repair & rebuilding costs resulting from the bombing include power supplies ($208m), telecoms ($99m), water ($74m) and military installations ($16m). The Lebanese national airline, MEA, had also been grounded for the duration of the conflict, incurring losses. Most economic activity was reported as severely disprupted. Agricultural activity, particularly in south Lebanon, was abandoned due to the fighting and bombing of the irrigation system.

Tourism, which accounts for 15% of Lebanon's GDP and acts as a crucial source of foreign currency, has been severely disrupted by the conflict, with damage to communal and business infrastructure, the Israeli-imposed sea and air blockade and current and continued instability preventing and deterring tourists. Foreign visitors had been expected to bring in $2.5 to $3 billion US during 2006.

Attacks on water treatment & irrigation

• IDF bombing has targeted irrigation canals, open water channels, and underground water diversion pipes which run Litani River water to more than 10,000 acres (40 km²) of farmland, villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. These attacks have been criticised as an attempt to "lay claim to Lebanon's prime watersheds." Attacks on the Litani Dam were also criticised.

Attacks on television facilities

By 27 July the international journalists' representative body, Reporters without Borders, reported that, to its knowledge, the IDF had;

• killed a Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) technician during a strike against transmitting equipment in the Satka area of Beirut,
• reduced the premises of Al Manar, Hezbollah's TV station, to ruins, injuring three,
• inflicted injuries on a three-member New TV crew within Lebanon, and
• killed a young woman photographer, Layal Nagib, near Tyre.

The IDF contend that the Al-Manar TV facilities which they bombed represent the propaganda arm of Hezbollah and were a legitimate target for the IDF military. Reporters Without Borders disputes this saying that the station "cannot be viewed as [a] military" target. A statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry read: "The Al-Manar station has for many years served as the main tool for propaganda and incitement by Hezbollah, and has also helped the organization recruit people into its ranks.”

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists responded to the statement by saying: "While Al-Manar may serve a propaganda function for Hezbollah, it does not appear based on a monitoring of its broadcasts today to be serving any discernible military function".

On July 22, 2006, the IDF bombed transmission towers and used by Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station and Al-Nour radio station. Bombing the transmission towers also disturbed cell phone communication. MSNBC reported that this was for the purpose of knocking off Hezbollah's military communication.

References

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