Political and economic analyst, Dr. Imad Akoush, stated today that the economic losses resulting from “Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa” and the ongoing confrontations in southern Lebanon between Israel and the Lebanese resistance in all its factions continue to accumulate on both sides.
While the value of losses is greater for the Israeli side in terms of value, this is due to the difference in the size of the economies between the two parties.
In statements to “Sputnik,” Akoush emphasized that the direct and indirect losses to date have exceeded $5 billion on the Lebanese economy, affecting various sectors including agriculture, industry, tourism, and most significantly, housing and infrastructure.
He continued: “The number of housing units destroyed has surpassed 500, completely demolished, with over 3,000 partially destroyed, according to the latest statistics.”
Akoush stated that the losses have significantly impacted the agricultural sector along the entire Lebanese border, extending over a depth of more than 10 kilometres.
This has left the land without cultivation and orchards without care, leading to future damage to these farms and incurring significant costs for their reclamation, especially those exposed to phosphorus bombs, which have extensively burned orchards and farms.
Regarding infrastructure, “all infrastructure, including electricity, water, and telecommunications, has been destroyed along the strip that borders Lebanon with occupied Palestine, and it requires complete reconstruction,” according to Akoush.
The Lebanese economist clarified in his statements that “every passing day accumulates losses, and the daily loss estimate with the continuation of the battles is approximately $15 million, based on the share of the south from the national income and the indirect damage to tourism in other regions, which has declined significantly, exceeding a 50% decline.”
Tensions continue along the entire 120-kilometer southern Lebanese border for the 163rd day between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah targets Israeli military positions distributed across three sectors: western, central, and eastern, from Ras Al-Naqoura to the Marjayoun area on the border with Syria.
Meanwhile, Israel targets resistance positions in southern Lebanon and adjacent areas to the borders.
