IDF raises Israeli flag

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have raised the Israeli flag at the ruins of the 'Garden of Iran' in Maroun al-Ras, southern Lebanon, following their military operations against Hezbollah. The site, which was established in 2010 and featured a replica of the Dome of the Rock and a statue of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, has been largely destroyed amid ongoing conflict since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller criticized the action, deeming it inappropriate and contrary to Israel's stated goal of limited incursions. The destruction of the garden marks a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border, with increased rocket fire from Hezbollah into northern Israel earlier this year. The IDF's actions have drawn mixed reactions, highlighting the tensions in the region. Footage of the flag-raising has circulated widely on social media, eliciting various responses from observers.