Lebanese media reported Monday that a 13-year-old schoolgirl from the Beirut area contacted the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, online and claimed that Hezbollah weapons were being stored inside her school. The girl and her father have since been arrested and are under investigation. Adraee, for his part, published a post asking that the girl not be punished.
According to the reports, the student attends Choueifat National College in Choueifat, near the Lebanese capital. A screenshot of the report circulated on social media after the appeal to Adraee became public.
A thorough search of the school building was conducted in the presence of security forces, but nothing suspicious was found. One of the student’s friends reportedly informed the school administration about the incident. The school later issued a statement saying that “any student found to be involved in defaming the school through any action or statement that violates the law and regulations, including on social media, will be subject to legal responsibility and prosecution, in addition to disciplinary measures.”
One Lebanese report said: “A childish act aimed at avoiding an exam was taken seriously by the enemy, which added the school to its target bank and may attack it, claiming it is targeting weapons depots.” It claimed the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman “took the joke seriously” and sent a drone to survey the school’s airspace.
Despite the link being made and the blame now placed on the girl, there is no connection between drone flights in the area, including near the school, and the student’s report, according to the IDF. Drones routinely operate in the area due to Hezbollah’s ongoing activity, and are unrelated to the incident.
Adraee addressed the matter on X, writing: “I saw this post, which caused a stir in Lebanon. I read carefully between the lines and considered its implications. The spread of such messages carries deep consequences that must be addressed: First, it seems an idea is taking root in Lebanon: that for every problem, no matter how big or small, the solution lies with the IDF and ‘Avichay.’ Second, the public is convinced, even children, even if this post is only a joke or a game, that the possibility that the Hezbollah terrorist organization holds weapons inside schools and civilian facilities is not far-fetched. In fact, it is a reality everyone is aware of.”
The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman continued: “But most important, my message to the school administration is this — I am speaking to you as a human being, regardless of differences: Do not look for the boy or girl who wrote this just to punish them. Let your conversation with the student be based on empathy, not punishment. Someone may harass her and put pressure on her. Teach students to tell the truth. To young people and children, I say: Tell the truth and be bold in expressing it, but inform your families and the relevant authorities about any danger or anything that troubles you, or about Hezbollah’s offenses against you, your future and your lives.”
Adraee has become a well-known figure during the recent years of fighting against the Shiite terrorist organization, including among Lebanese children. Even opponents of Israel follow him on social media to learn more, follow evacuation warnings and track developments in the fighting. Many children in Lebanon, from families displaced from the country’s south, have been studying remotely for a long time. It appears not all Lebanese children see it as a bad thing for their school to be under IDF surveillance — and that Adraee has become the “solution” for not going to school.