Beirut: Lebanon's education minister announced that the Israeli army completely destroyed three schools in the country's south after allegedly looting their contents and rigging the buildings with explosives. In a statement shared by Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), Education and Higher Education Minister Rima Karami detailed the destruction of two schools in Khiam and one in Bint Jbeil, attributing the actions to the Israeli military forces.

According to Anadolu Agency, the minister described how the Israeli army looted the contents of these educational institutions before surrounding them with explosives, which resulted in their demolition. Minister Karami added that these schools have now been included in the list of educational institutions destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

Minister Karami emphasized the destruction was occurring "before the eyes of the entire world," despite international principles that view schools as some of the safest and most protected facilities, often serving as shelters during wars, disasters, and other emergencies. She urged major powers to pressure Israel to cease its attacks on educational institutions and to exclude schools from conflicts and wars.

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated framework agreement on June 26, which outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory. The agreement, however, does not provide a specific timetable for withdrawal, linking its completion to the Lebanese army taking full security responsibility in the evacuated areas and the disarmament of armed groups, notably Hezbollah.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in at least 4,324 fatalities, injured 12,223 individuals, and displaced more than 1 million people since March, as reported by official Lebanese figures. Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, with some regions held for decades and others seized during the 2023-24 war.