Ask Onix
Widespread destruction confirmed in Lebanese border towns
Satellite images and verified video footage analyzed by BBC Verify reveal that Israeli military operations have demolished more than 1,400 buildings across southern Lebanon since early March. The actual scale of destruction is expected to be significantly higher due to restricted ground access and limited satellite coverage.
Israel accelerates demolition campaign following ministerial order
On 22 March, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directed forces to intensify the destruction of Lebanese homes near the border, citing the military approach used in Gaza as a model. The directive came amid Israel's ongoing offensive against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militant group.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that all operations comply with the Law of Armed Conflict, asserting that property destruction occurs only when militarily necessary. The IDF also claimed, without providing evidence, that Hezbollah has embedded military infrastructure within civilian areas.
Escalation follows cross-border attacks
The conflict escalated on 2 March when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader earlier in the war. The IDF responded with airstrikes targeting alleged Hezbollah positions and later initiated a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Evacuation orders issued by the IDF have progressively expanded. Initially limited to border-adjacent areas, the directives now cover regions south of the Zahrani River, approximately 40 km from the Israeli border. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon, including 820,000 from the south, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Many have fled northward or into Syria.
The Lebanese health ministry reports that more than 2,000 people have been killed since the conflict began. Israeli authorities state that 13 soldiers and two civilians have died in Hezbollah attacks over the past six weeks.
Satellite analysis reveals systematic demolitions
BBC Verify's investigation identified controlled demolitions in at least seven border towns and villages. In Taybeh, located 4 km from the Israeli border, 11 verified videos show entire neighborhoods being leveled simultaneously. Satellite imagery from 28 February and 11 April confirms that over 400 buildings, including a mosque, have been destroyed.
In Aita al-Shaab, more than 460 structures have been demolished. Satellite images also show excavators and armored vehicles operating in the village, according to Tony Reeves, founder of the intelligence analysis firm MAIAR.
The coastal town of Naqoura has also suffered extensive damage. At least 100 buildings have been razed in recent weeks, including areas adjacent to the headquarters of the UN's peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (Unifil).
"The scale of the destruction in Naqoura is truly heartbreaking. These are not just buildings; they represent a community."
Kandice Ardiel, Unifil spokesperson
Legal experts warn of potential war crimes
International law experts consulted by BBC Verify argue that the systematic demolition of civilian infrastructure may constitute a war crime. Under international humanitarian law, destruction of property is prohibited unless justified by imperative military necessity.
Prof. Janina Dill, a global security and international law expert at Oxford University, stated that the threshold for military necessity is far higher than mere convenience. "It certainly does not cover leveling entire villages as a precursor to long-term national security," she said.
Yuval Shany, a legal expert from the Israel Democracy Institute, emphasized that each building's military significance must be assessed individually. "The potential military use of some civilian buildings does not justify a sweeping policy of creating buffer zones where all structures are destroyed," he added.
Prof. Ben Saul, UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, suggested that Israel's actions in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut may violate international law. He noted that the pattern of attacks in some areas appears aimed at displacing predominantly Shia populations, collectively punishing communities where Hezbollah fighters may be present.
The IDF rejected these claims, stating that accusations of targeting civilians based on religion or sect are "categorically false." The military also asserted that evacuation orders are not intended to permanently displace residents or prevent their lawful return.
Buffer zone plan raises territorial concerns
Israeli officials have outlined plans for a "security zone" extending from the border to the Litani River, encompassing roughly 10% of Lebanon's territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the zone as necessary to "thwart the threat of invasion."
Dr. Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, co-director of the Centre for International Law at the University of Bristol, argued that even if Israel's actions are framed as self-defense against Hezbollah, the destruction of towns and villages exceeds the bounds of a limited defensive operation. "The fundamental rule of law is that civilian objects must not be targeted," he said.
