We received messages asking for clarification about the earlier video released by the IDF showing them placing an Israeli flag in Maroun al-Ras.
As a reminder, there’s a fully-enforced media blackout by Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon preventing Lebanese media from covering there – except their 2 affiliated outlets. Right now, IDF and Hezbollah have full control over information there. We mention this regularly as it’s important in the context of reporting news as it allows them to control the narrative they wish.
We didn’t want to give the videos more light than needed but this is how we cross-referenced and confirmed the legitimacy of the video.
Claims:
Pro-Hezbollah reporters, outlets, and social media users are pushing multiple claims:
- Denying this was on Lebanese lands
- It’s on right on the Blue Line
- Denying it’s in Maroun al-Ras but just outside of it (as if this isn’t also Lebanese lands)
- It’s near the UNIFIL outpost
Truth:
The video took place in what’s called the Iranian Garden – an Iranian-Hezbollah propaganda attraction site. The then mayor of Maroun al-Ras was interviewed taking pride in it and mentioning how it’s the center attraction and community for the town.
Billboards of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had decorated the site along with a larger-than-life cut-out figure of slain senior Iranian general Qassem Soleimani with a finger pointing toward Israel.
The garden was a gift from the Iranian regime in 2010 “to the border village of Maroun al-Ras.”
In the garden, which has an upper view of an Israeli settlement, you can find a replica of Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock, a place for families to gather, and a paintball course. The site was visited by then-Iranian president Ahmadinejad. In 2006, the location was a battleground for fierce clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
Here are pictures from before:
This site was attacked early in the Israel-Hezbollah war and we reported it back on October 23, 2023. And much of it, as seen in the video, has turned to rubble since.
The video of the raising of the Israeli flag was posted to our main WhatsApp News Channel found here.
As the soldier pans, you can clearly see the remains of the park, now in rubble.
We used software to transcribe what the soldiers said in the video then translated it to English. The Israeli soldier is saying “The Iranian compound (or promenade) in front of Avivim”
Avivm is a settlement in Israel right on the UN Blue Line seen on the map below:
The Iran Garden is 700 meters from the border and the UN 2000 Blue Line:
The closest house in Maroun al-Ras is around 160 meters away from the Iran Garden as seen on the map view:
And on the satellite view:
The current state of the replica of the mosque posted online 3 hours ago:
Which is located here:
And can be seen in the background of the video at the 0:11 second mark:
This pinpoints the placement of the flag roughly within this blue circle:
Which coincides with the steps seen in the image:
The claim that this is right on the border is also false. The highest point of the town is 911 meters above sea level and the Iran Garden is located at around 880 meters – compared to the Blue Line which sits around 200 meters below:
The claim that it is near the UNIFIL outpost (Unp 6-52) is also wrong. Aside from the over 150 meters altitude difference between the two, the drive is 3.2km and 8 minutes long – requiring you to drive up into the center of the town before being able to get to the Iran Garden:
In addition, and more importantly, Hezbollah released a statement around 8 pm saying that they attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Maroun al-Ras area with a missile – further confirming IDF’s presence in Maroun al-Ras.
If there is any doubt about this, lift the media ban in the south and let the media in to confirm firsthand.
