Israeli Demolitions Leveling Southern Lebanon Towns, Satellite Images Show

Satellite visuals and video footage obtained by BBC Verify reveal widespread destruction in southern Lebanese towns and villages, with over 1,400 structures reportedly obliterated since March 2. The findings highlight the extent of Israeli military operations in the region, though the full impact remains underreported due to restricted ground access and limited imagery coverage.

Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah has targeted border areas, with Defence Minister Israel Katz directing efforts to “accelerate the destruction of Lebanese homes” near the Israeli frontier. This strategy, modeled on Gaza, aims to create a secure buffer zone. However, legal analysts suggest such systematic demolitions may constitute a war crime, citing the disproportionate use of force against civilian populations.

“The systematic demolition of these towns and villages may amount to a war crime,” said international law experts to BBC Verify.

Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF) assert compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict, stating property destruction is justified only when necessary for military operations. They claim Hezbollah has entrenched military assets within civilian zones, though no evidence was provided. The conflict escalated after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel on March 2, retaliating for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

Following the attack, the IDF initiated aerial strikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion of the southern region. Evacuation orders were first issued to civilians near the border on March 2, later expanding to those south of the Litani River and eventually reaching areas 40km from the frontier. On March 16, the IDF confirmed the start of its ground operation against Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim political and military group.

According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced, including 820,000 from the south. The war has driven many to flee northward or cross into Syria. Meanwhile, the Lebanese health ministry reports over 2,000 fatalities since the conflict began, while Israeli authorities state Hezbollah has killed 13 soldiers and two civilians in recent weeks.

Lebanese hilltop communities now bear the scars of relentless Israeli strikes. Once vibrant with stone buildings and winding streets, these towns have been reduced to rubble, as captured in verified videos showing simultaneous explosions. A comparison of satellite imagery from February 28 and April 11 reveals over 400 buildings, including a mosque, destroyed in Taybeh—a town just 4km from the border.

Analysts at MAIAR have identified controlled demolitions in at least seven border settlements, with Taybeh experiencing particularly severe damage. Eleven videos show entire sections of the town reduced to ash. In other areas like Khiam and nearby villages, coordinated blasts have devastated multiple structures, including Aita al-Shaab, where over 460 buildings were razed alone.

“Most of the buildings opposite the Unifil HQ have now been destroyed,” said Kandice Ardiel, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), noting frequent demolitions of several buildings at once since early April.

Naqoura, a coastal town, also saw damage to the headquarters of the UN’s peacekeeping mission. Excavators and armored vehicles were visible in satellite images, underscoring the ongoing military activity. The scale of destruction continues to grow, with at least 100 structures in Naqoura reportedly leveled in recent weeks.