WATCH: How does the IDF destroy Hezbollah targets in Beirut without damaging civilian infrastructure?

Perhaps you have seen a video of an IDF strike in Dahiyeh; one particular building, in the middle of a crowded civilian neighborhood, hides Hezbollah infrastructure. Just meters away, several civilian apartment buildings are standing. 

Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, that building – and only that building – collapses on itself while Lebanese bystanders look on, shouting and shaking their heads in disbelief. 

How exactly is the IDF able to so precisely destroy a single building, surrounded by so much civilian infrastructure? 

Recently, the IDF released a video explaining some of the processes it undergoes when choosing to carry out such a mission. 

Lieutenant A., a commander in the Beirut attack department, explains, “From the moment of our entry into Lebanon, we have been carrying out significant attacks in Beirut.” 

“Our two main objectives are to hit Hezbollah's ability to produce precision-guided missiles and to dismantle its weapons storage facilities – most of which are located in the heart of the civilian area in Dahiyeh,” Lt. A said. 

Dahiyeh is the Hezbollah-controlled suburb of Beirut, where the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has focused much of their attention after the beeper attacks that incapacitated thousands of Hezbollah fighters and leaders earlier this year. 

Referring to the strike seen in the video, Lt. A. said, “We bombed a building that served as Hezbollah's underground weapons storage facility. We planned the target and the operation in a dedicated Air Force system before launching the attack, which allowed us to ensure every small detail was taken into account. This phase is critical – not only for the success of the mission but also because of the complexity of the civilian environment.” 

The IAF has a wide range of specialized munitions, and they are chosen based on the nature of the target, whether a building, a whole floor in the building, or even a specific room, once a target is identified, the weapons can be used with extreme precision. In this strike, a one-ton bomb, known as "Heavy Hail," was used to target a weapons storage facility hidden beneath the building with pinpoint accuracy. 

First, the Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) identifies a structure as a legitimate military target. Next, it assesses that the terror facilities within pose a genuine threat to Israel. Finally, the method of destroying the facility is determined, taking into account its unique characteristics.

“We might think the next step is for a jet to drop a bomb on the building; however, if the jet drops a bomb randomly from the sky, it can damage significant parts of the surrounding area,” the officer explained. 

Each element of the strike has to be evaluated and calculated. The military planners know the physics involved, as well as the amount of explosives needed to destroy the facility. 

Another factor considered is the building itself. While many may appear similar, each building has its own structure and construction that require precise calculations – from the angle at which the missile strikes the building to the speed of the attacking aircraft. 

The bomb in the video was GPS-guided. From the guidance system, “it receives the exact coordinates, and using 3D imaging, it identifies the desired impact location, the specific floor, and the correct height,” Lt. A. explained.

Another critical part of the operation is the step of warning the civilian population in the area of the strike.

For this, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee communicates in advance with residents in the area, often via social media and using maps showing the exact location of the building to be targeted, urging them to evacuate as soon as possible for their safety. 

The IDF said, “Despite their [Hezbollah’s] use of civilians as human shields, we are doing everything possible to minimize, on one hand, the harm to non-combatants, but still accomplish the essential mission on the northern front—for the sake of Israeli citizens.”