Dahiya Doctrine: For years, Israel has employed a military strategy known as the Dahiya Doctrine to target its adversaries, particularly in Lebanon and Palestine. This controversial method focuses on significantly weakening the economies and civilian infrastructure of enemy states in an attempt to cripple their military and political capabilities.Rising tensions in the Middle EastTensions in the Middle East escalated after Israel reportedly killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Sunday. Following the attack, Israel emphasized its readiness to retaliate if its citizens were targeted, while Hezbollah vowed to continue its fight against Israel. Recently, Israel has been accused of targeting civilian areas in Lebanon and Palestine, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians and substantial property damage.Deadly strikes on Hezbollah and LebanonOn September 17, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a deadly strike against Hezbollah forces, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and injuring thousands. A coordinated attack the following day led to the explosion of walkie-talkies and communication devices, killing at least 12 people. The widespread devastation plunged Lebanon into chaos.What is the Dahiya DoctrineThe Dahiya Doctrine is a military strategy that advocates for the use of overwhelming and disproportionate force, often deliberately targeting civilian areas and infrastructure. Named after the Dahiya suburb of Beirut—home to Hezbollahs headquarters—the doctrine was officially articulated by then-General Gadi Eisenkot, the Chief of Israels Northern Command. This strategy was first widely recognized during Israels 2006 assault on Lebanon.The 2006 Lebanon War is a pivotal exampleIn 2006, during its military campaign against Hezbollah, Israel employed the Dahiya Doctrine, targeting not only Hezbollah militants but also Lebanons civilian infrastructure. The result was the destruction of critical facilities, including power plants, bridges, and sewage systems, causing massive civilian casualties and crippling the countrys economy. Over 1,000 people were killed, with widespread damage to non-military targets.Operation cast lead and Gaza conflictsIsrael has implemented the Dahiya Doctrine on several other occasions, including during Operation Cast Lead in December 2008. In this operation, approximately 1,400 Palestinians, including 300 children, were killed. A United Nations inquiry determined that the operation was designed to terrorize civilians and punish the Palestinian population.Similarly, in 2014, Israel launched another extensive military assault in Gaza, killing over 1,500 civilians in just 50 days. Once again, the countrys civilian infrastructure—specifically Gazas power plant—was targeted, leaving the population without electricity or clean water.Escalating violence in 2023Following a Hamas attack in October 2022, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israeli civilians, Israel responded with one of its deadliest military offensives in recent history. According to the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), the attacks led to the deaths of nearly 39,000 Palestinians by July 31, 2023.
