Israeli Army's Destruction of Homes in Southern Lebanon Raises Concerns Amid Ceasefire
Destruction in Southern Lebanon
Beirut: Following a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli military has begun demolishing homes in southern Lebanon, claiming they were utilized as bases by the Iran-supported militant group.
However, the scale of these demolitions has raised alarms among local residents, Lebanese officials, and U.N. peacekeepers, who fear that many displaced individuals may find themselves without homes to return to if the fragile ceasefire persists.
From a vantage point overlooking Beit Lif, approximately 4 kilometers north of the Israeli border, journalists observed that the village, once bustling with thousands of residents, has been nearly completely destroyed.
Hassan Sweidan, a local resident, remarked, "They gradually demolished it until they reached the main square, and now, as you can see, there are no more houses."
Lebanese authorities are set to address the extensive demolitions during ceasefire discussions with Israeli representatives in Washington, marking the first direct negotiations between the two nations in decades.
Due to security issues and restricted access, neither U.N. peacekeepers nor Lebanese officials have been able to conduct a thorough assessment of the affected villages, but reports indicate that entire neighborhoods in several villages are being systematically obliterated.
Fragile Ceasefire and Ongoing Conflict
A 10-day ceasefire is shaky
On March 2, just two days after the U.S. and Israel initiated military action against Iran, Hezbollah retaliated by launching missiles into northern Israel. The Lebanese government had previously pressured Hezbollah to disarm following its last conflict with Israel in 2024, but the group resisted.
In response, Israel executed a severe bombing campaign and ground invasion of Lebanon, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands from the southern region. The conflict has resulted in approximately 2,300 fatalities in Lebanon, including many women and children.
A 10-day ceasefire commenced on Friday, halting most hostilities, yet both factions have continued to engage in strikes. Hezbollah has defended its actions by citing the destruction of homes by the Israeli military.
Israeli officials have expressed intentions to maintain a presence in parts of southern Lebanon, releasing maps indicating a "forward defense line" that extends several miles into Lebanese territory, encompassing numerous villages where residents have been barred from returning.
Following the ceasefire announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the area had been "cleared of terrorists and weapons and is empty of citizens, and will continue to be cleared of terrorists' infrastructure, including the destruction of houses in Lebanese villages that border Israel and have become terrorist outposts in every sense."
Observations from the Ground
There are no more houses
After the ceasefire took effect, Sweidan returned to his home in the southern Lebanese village of Yater, which remained intact.
From his vantage point, he could monitor the Israeli army's activities in Beit Lif. Despite suffering damage from Israeli airstrikes during the conflict, most of Beit Lif was still standing on the first day of the ceasefire, he noted.
However, on the second day, Israeli forces arrived with heavy machinery, including bulldozers and tanks.
"We would come each day to see how much of the village was demolished," he recounted.
Tilak Pokharel, a spokesperson for the U.S. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, confirmed that peacekeepers have witnessed demolitions occurring in various locations since the truce began.
The Israeli military stated that their demolition efforts target Hezbollah, not the Lebanese populace, asserting that they operate within the bounds of international law and only destroy civilian property when absolutely necessary.
Continued Destruction and Future Talks
New demolitions come on top of existing destruction
The border regions had already experienced significant devastation following the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024. While some homeowners managed to make repairs, large-scale reconstruction was absent.
Demolitions also occurred during the recent conflict. Photographs taken on April 12 by Associated Press from the towns of Menara and Misgav Am in northern Israel depicted excavators and bulldozers demolishing homes on the Lebanese side of the border.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli bulldozers were razing neighborhoods, roads, and infrastructure in Khiam, a site of intense fighting, "in a scene that suggests an attempt to completely erase the town's identity."
The agency also noted "systematic bombing operations" affecting residential areas in Bint Jbeil and the villages of Beit Lif, Shamaa, Tair Harfa, and Hanine.
Hezbollah announced on Tuesday that it had conducted drone and rocket strikes, the first since the ceasefire, in retaliation for Israeli "attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages in southern Lebanon."
As Lebanese officials strive to maintain the ceasefire, President Joseph Aoun stated that halting Israel's demolition activities in southern villages and towns will be a priority for Lebanese ambassadors in discussions with their Israeli counterparts during the ceasefire talks.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming talks are anticipated to focus on extending the 10-day truce and establishing a framework for future negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace between the two nations.