Schoolgirl’s Instagram ‘joke’ about Hezbollah missiles hidden under school triggers panic

Screenshot of a message sent by a Lebanese schoolgirl to IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee on Instagram alleging that Hezbollah hides weapons under the building of the International School of Choueifat and asks that they bomb it. (Social Media)

• Student messaged Israeli military spokesperson on platform alleging group hides weapons under ISC building, asked Israel to bomb it
• ‘It was a bad joke. I assure you that it happened less than a week ago,’ an administrator told Arab News

BEIRUT: An Instagram message by a Lebanese schoolgirl to an Israeli official alleging that Hezbollah hid missiles under her school in Choueifat area has triggered unprecedented panic among residents and caused social media uproar.
The 13-year-old student was reported to have messaged the Israeli Defense Forces’ Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee on Instagram, alleging that “Hezbollah hides weapons under the building of” the International School of Choueifat.
ISC is located in the capital’s southside in an area that neighbors and overlooks Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburb.
The Lebanese press further cited the seventh grader as having written: “I would like to give you an important piece of information … help us get rid of those weapons hidden underground and fire a missile at them! I just wanted to give you this information and the rest is on you. I have nothing to do with it, ok!”
Despite the fact that no accurate information was made available as to when the incident happened, an ISC administrator told Arab News that “it has happened very recently.
“Unfortunately, we have been asked to remain tight-lipped regarding this incident that has triggered unforeseen panic among the staff, parents, students and residents of the neighborhood. It was a bad joke. I assure you that it happened less than a week ago,” said the administrator who requested to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the issue.
ISC initiated an internal investigation which unveiled, according to local media, that the schoolgirl had no ill-intention and it was a joke between her and a classmate.
Shortly after Adraee received the Instagram message, several drones were reported to have flown above ISC’s vicinity, while the Lebanese Army’s intelligence division searched the school without finding any weapons.
Despite a frail ceasefire, Israeli drones have been spotted above the skies of Beirut and other areas for the past week.
The incident was also said to have triggered panic among Choueifat residents who live close to the school as well as parents of students.
ISC issued a statement warning to students that anyone found to have been involved in any act or behavior that abuses the school or exposes it in an illegal manner will be subject to legal accountability.
Regarding the incident, the statement said: “We emphasize that the investigation file remains open. Anyone who proves to be involved in any legal violation or behavior that abuses the school, will be subject to prosecution, and they and their parents will be held accountable.”
ISC further warned that violators will be dismissed in accordance with the applicable regulations.
The school requested students and parents treat the statement as a “final warning” urging them to fully comply with ISC’s laws and regulations.
ISC’s principal, Hussein Msheik, was quoted as telling the press that the claim was completely false, and the girl and her friend had admitted it was a joke.
On Tuesday, Adraee said on X that even though such an incident could have been meant as a joke, “the hypothesis of weapons belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah existing inside schools and civilian facilities is not something to dismiss — it’s a reality everyone recognizes.”