Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of implementing a scorched earth policy in southern Lebanon, warning the destruction of entire towns risks deepening a humanitarian crisis that has already displaced more than 1 million people.
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Lebanon PM accuses Israel of scorched earth policy as 1M displaced
Israeli forces have shifted from targeted strikes to systematically destroying towns and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Friday, warning the escalation amounts to collective punishment against civilians.
"The Israeli military is trying to erase Lebanon's memory and wipe out the history of our people," Salam said in a nationally televised address. "But this scorched earth policy will not bring security to Israel."
The comments came as Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, striking more than 150 targets in the past day and issuing sweeping evacuation orders for Nabatieh and Tyre, two of the largest cities in southern Lebanon. At least 31 people were killed Tuesday, including four children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The overall death toll has reached 3,213 since the conflict escalated in March, with more than 1 million people displaced. Israeli troops have crossed the Litani River and are operating deeper inside Lebanese territory than at any point since the March invasion.
The escalation threatens to unravel a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that took effect April 17 and was extended May 15 for 45 days. With Hezbollah continuing drone and rocket attacks and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to "deepen the operation," the window for diplomacy is narrowing ahead of the next round of Israeli-Lebanese talks in Washington scheduled for June 2-3. The Pentagon hosted the first-ever Israeli-Lebanese military talks on May 29, but Hezbollah has denounced the negotiations and vowed to fight on.
Humanitarian Toll Deepens as Food Insecurity Worsens
The conflict is compounding Lebanon's existing economic collapse, already one of the worst globally since the 1850s. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned that almost 1 in 4 people — about 1.24 million — are expected to face acute food insecurity between April and August. The Agriculture Ministry said about 22 percent of agricultural land in affected areas has been damaged, undermining food production and livelihoods. A United Nations flash appeal for $308.3 million secured only 51.3 percent of required funding by May 26, forcing aid agencies to scale back essential services. Water service provision to Syrian refugees is set to stop June 1, raising the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks including hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera, according to Suzanne Takkenberg, regional director for Lebanon at Action Against Hunger.
Hezbollah's domestic position is also under strain. The Lebanese government under President Joseph Aoun banned all military action by the group in March and continues to push for its disarmament, as stipulated in the November 2024 ceasefire. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has warned the government against any attempt to shut down the group's financial institutions, raising the specter of internal civil strife.
Oil and Gold Rise as Geopolitical Risk Premium Expands
The escalation is feeding through to financial markets. Brent crude oil prices have risen as traders price in the risk of supply disruption across the broader Middle East, while gold has gained as a safe-haven asset. The last time Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon in 2006, Brent crude rose 5 percent in the first two weeks while the S&P 500 fell 3 percent. The current conflict has already drawn in Iran, which conditions its own peace talks with the US on ending the fighting in Lebanon, adding another layer of uncertainty to the region's energy supply outlook.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 21 percent of global oil trade passes, remains a key risk factor if the conflict widens. US and Iranian negotiators have been holding talks brokered by Pakistan, but Tehran has insisted that any deal must include an end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon. Israeli officials have signaled they view the Lebanon campaign as separate from any US-Iran agreement.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
[1] Lebanese Prime Minister Accuses Israel of Implementing "Scorched Earth Policy"[2] Israel Continues Its Escalation in Lebanon, Ordering Evacuations - The New York Times[3] Civilians in Lebanon hit hardest as Israel targets Hezbollah - DW.com[4] Pentagon hosts first-ever Israeli–Lebanese military talks aimed at curbing Hezbo...[5] Israel strikes southern Beirut amid increasing escalation in southern Lebanon
