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Beirut residents were startled Friday when two loud booms echoed across the city, followed by Israeli leaflets descending from the sky. The papers, which made direct reference to Israel’s Gaza offensive, urged Lebanese citizens to share intelligence with Israeli forces.
“In light of the resounding success in Gaza, the New Reality Newspaper arrives in Lebanon,” read the leaflets, which contained QR codes directing people to Facebook and WhatsApp chats with Unit 504, an intelligence branch of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
Local authorities quickly advised residents against scanning the codes, citing potential data security risks. The leaflets also contained provocative statements such as “Lebanon is your decision” and “Your land is yours, don’t let it become ‘free money’ for Iranian Hezbollah’s weapons.”
“First there were these big, strong booms. We thought it was a rocket or a drone,” Beirut resident Hala Beydoun told CBC News. “Then, we see these raining pamphlets from the skies, like, what the heck?”
The tactic mirrors Israel’s previous use of leaflets in Gaza, where they have dropped evacuation warnings ahead of military strikes. Human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned such actions as amounting to forced displacement and collective punishment, which are considered war crimes under international law. Israeli officials have consistently maintained that these warnings are meant to protect civilian lives.
George Katrougalos, an independent United Nations expert specializing in democracy and international order, described the leaflet drop as “clear psychological warfare” and potentially unlawful.
“Invoking Gaza, where we have a genocide, as a model to be repeated is clearly a threat. Not at all a hidden threat. It’s a direct threat addressed to the population,” Katrougalos said. He pointed to violations of the Geneva Conventions, specifically Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I, which prohibits “acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population.”
A UN Commission of Inquiry released findings in September suggesting Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, allegations Israel has forcefully denied as “scandalous” and “libelous.” The IDF did not respond to multiple requests for comment from CBC News regarding the leaflet drops.
The psychological operation comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in Lebanon since March 2, when the Iran-backed militant group opened fire following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli strikes have killed more than 800 people and displaced at least 800,000, including women and children. Large areas of southern Lebanon have been evacuated under Israeli orders.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate rapidly, prompting repeated calls for de-escalation from world leaders and UN experts.
Michael Eisenstadt, director of the military and security studies program with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, places blame on Hezbollah for the current situation, claiming they violated the 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel.
“Hezbollah bears exclusive responsibility for this state of affairs; if they weren’t returning to southern Lebanon, rearming, and resuming armed operations against Israel in violation of the ceasefire resolution, this wouldn’t be happening,” Eisenstadt said. However, both sides have accused each other of breaching the truce since it was signed in November 2024.
Eisenstadt noted that propaganda leaflets have a long history in warfare, dating back to before World War I. “It’s just another way of influencing a civilian population and influencing people to cooperate with Israel against Hezbollah,” he explained.
Katrougalos acknowledges this history but draws a distinction: “That’s why we must distinguish between legitimate propaganda and what is forbidden by international law. Spread of terror is what is forbidden by international law. Threatening the civilian population — that they are going to have the fate of Gaza — this is against international law.”
For ordinary Lebanese citizens like Beydoun, the psychological impact is profound. “I fear they [Israel] are trying to reach us in all the ways possible. They want to get into our heads. They want to get into our houses, into our daily lives,” she said. “It’s like they want to control us.”
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Beydoun says she and many Lebanese simply want peace and autonomy. “The majority of my friends feel they don’t want any interference — neither from the U.S. and Israel nor from Hezbollah and Iran,” she said. “They just want to live, and be Lebanese, and live Lebanese, and strive to be better and look for a more secure and peaceful Lebanon.”
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8 Comments
The use of QR codes and social media outreach in these leaflets is an interesting twist on traditional military propaganda. I wonder if it will be effective in gathering intelligence or if the Lebanese public will be wary of engaging with the suggested channels.
Interesting propaganda tactic by Israel to target Lebanese citizens during the Hezbollah offensive. I wonder how effective these leaflets will be in swaying public opinion or gathering intelligence. Seems like a risky move that could backfire if not handled carefully.
I agree, dropping leaflets from the sky is a rather heavy-handed approach. It will be important to see how the Lebanese public responds and whether this strategy achieves Israel’s intended goals.
Dropping propaganda leaflets from the sky is a bold tactic, but I’m curious to see how it plays out. Will it sway public opinion in Israel’s favor or simply be seen as an aggressive provocation by the Lebanese people?
It will be interesting to monitor the response to these leaflets. If they’re largely ignored or seen as heavy-handed, it may backfire and undermine Israel’s goals in the region.
The use of QR codes and social media outreach in these leaflets is quite modern for a military propaganda campaign. I’m curious to see if this tactic helps Israel gain more intelligence or sway public sentiment, or if it will be mostly ignored by the Lebanese people.
It’s an interesting combination of old-school leaflet drops and new digital outreach. I wonder if the Lebanese public will engage with the QR codes or avoid them due to data security concerns as suggested.
These leaflet drops seem like a rather confrontational move by Israel during the Hezbollah conflict. I’m not sure if this will be an effective way to reach the Lebanese public or if it will just further inflame tensions in the region.