Israeli demolitions in southern Lebanon level towns, satellite images show

Lead

Satellite images and videos obtained by BBC Verify show that towns and villages in southern Lebanon are being levelled by Israeli demolitions, with more than 1,400 buildings destroyed since 2 March, based on verified visual evidence. The analysis, described as a snapshot of the overall damage, points to a scale of destruction that has alarmed residents, Lebanese officials, and UN peacekeepers, who fear that large numbers of displaced people may have nowhere to return if a fragile ceasefire holds.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the demolitions has come from BBC Verify and the South China Morning Post, each focusing on different aspects of the story. BBC Verify, in an investigative report, centered on the scale of destruction and the legal implications, citing international law experts who said the systematic demolition of towns and villages may amount to a war crime. The South China Morning Post, reporting from the region, highlighted the humanitarian concern, describing the demolitions as happening on a wide scale and quoting residents and officials worried about displacement.

Both outlets reported that the Israeli army has been destroying homes in southern Lebanon, which it says were used as outposts by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. They also noted that the demolitions are causing concern among residents, Lebanese officials, and UN peacekeepers about the displacement of people. The South China Morning Post added that ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel are being held in Washington, with Lebanese officials planning to raise the issue of widespread demolitions.

Key claims

• Over 1,400 buildings have been destroyed in southern Lebanon since 2 March, based on verified visual evidence, as reported by BBC Verify. This figure is a snapshot; the true scale is likely to be much higher due to limited access on the ground and available satellite imagery.
• More than 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon, including 820,000 from the south, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as cited in the South China Morning Post's report.
• Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered on 22 March to "accelerate the destruction of Lebanese homes" near the Israeli border, based on the "model in Gaza," as part of its campaign against Hezbollah, according to BBC Verify.
• International law experts told BBC Verify that the systematic demolition of these towns and villages may amount to a war crime.
• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it operates in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and does not allow the destruction of property unless there is an imperative military necessity. It added, without providing evidence, that Hezbollah has embedded military infrastructure within civilian areas in the region, as reported by BBC Verify.
• Israel plans to create a "security zone" in southern Lebanon, which would take up about 10% of Lebanon's territory, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
• Ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel are being held in Washington, with Lebanese officials planning to raise the issue of widespread demolitions, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

Israeli military: The Israel Defense Forces say they operate in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and do not allow the destruction of property unless there is an imperative military necessity. They also say that Hezbollah has embedded military infrastructure within civilian areas in the region, though they provided no evidence for this claim.

International law experts: Experts told BBC Verify that the systematic demolition of towns and villages in southern Lebanon may amount to a war crime, reflecting concerns about the legality of the scale and nature of the destruction.