base israel lebanon border abandoned
© RTA view of the abandoned Israeli base at the Lebanese border
An RT Arabic crew managed to get into an Israeli military base at the border with Lebanon. The outpost was hastily abandoned after a recent showdown with Hezbollah, and the IDF even left behind vehicles and ammunition.

The Avivim military compound was the scene of a skirmish on Sunday between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Hezbollah managed to strike an Israeli military vehicle with an anti-tank guided missile, while the IDF retaliated with artillery shelling and "very limited" use of attack helicopters.


Comment: Hezbollah TV: Footage of missile attack on Israeli army vehicle, response to Israeli drone attacks


RT visited the base on Tuesday to film what was going on around the compound, only to find it evacuated and with no guards in sight. Eventually, the crew gave in to temptation and took a peek inside.


The retreat from the base was apparently conducted in haste, as many important things were left behind. RT Arabic correspondent Daliya Namari said she "never saw anything like that before" - an Israeli military compound simply abandoned without any visible attempt to secure it from infiltration.

"The Israelis have left the base with its doors wide open. Anyone can go into it, there no checkpoints around," Namari said.
abandoned base israel lebanon
© RT/Screenshot
A couple of armored vehicles were sitting there with their hatches open, and someone left behind their belongings including some documents at the checkpoint.
abandoned base israel lebanon
© RT/Screenshot
The barracks had various things lying around as well, including pieces of equipment and small arms magazines.
documents abandoned israel base lebanon
© RT/ScreenshotDocuments found at abandoned Israeli base
The compound was apparently evacuated due to the skirmish, but it remains unclear why no guards were left behind.