Extensive demolition operations are underway in southern Lebanon, led by Israeli construction companies that previously worked in the Gaza Strip. This reflects the transfer of a systematic destruction model from one area to another, as part of a plan to alter the geographic and demographic reality of the border region.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, these companies are playing a central role in implementing a policy based on the destruction of infrastructure and the foundations of life, paving the way for the creation of a buffer zone intended to prevent the return of more than one million displaced Lebanese to their villages.
Within this framework, the Israeli army is working to impose what is known as the “Yellow Line,” which extends to encompass approximately 55 border towns, nearly 20 of which have already been completely destroyed. The plan also includes expanding this zone to a depth of between 4 and 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory, repeating a scenario previously implemented in Gaza.
Despite the declaration of a temporary truce, the demolition work has not stopped but continues at an accelerated pace, rendering the targeted areas uninhabitable for extended periods and establishing a new reality on the ground.
On the ground, these operations were accompanied by a move to geographically isolate southern Lebanon by destroying 10 vital bridges, including four main bridges over the Litani River, in an attempt to make the river a natural boundary for the buffer zone. Evacuation warnings were also extended to areas north of the Litani, reaching as far as the Zahrani River.
The damage was not limited to infrastructure; it also affected vital sectors. Fifty-six schools were completely destroyed, while another 120 were damaged, leading to the permanent closure of 44 border schools. In the health sector, 15 hospitals were bombed, rendering nearly half of them inoperable, including facilities in Mays al-Jabal, Bint Jbeil, and Jabal Amel. Lebanese and international authorities denied Israeli accusations that these hospitals were being used for military purposes.
These developments coincide with the escalating displacement crisis, with UNICEF estimating that the number of displaced people has exceeded one million, including about 370,000 children, amid increasing indications that the scale of the destruction may prevent the return of residents, even if military operations cease.
