Vision of destruction: Israel’s assault on southern Lebanon in video, maps and charts
More than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes amid bombings, evacuation orders and demolitions
TL;DR
- Over 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes in southern Lebanon due to Israeli bombings, evacuation orders, and demolitions.
- The Israeli military issued forced evacuation orders for over 100 villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border, displacing residents progressively further north.
- A significant portion of southern Lebanon, approximately 6% of the country's territory, is now under Israeli occupation, referred to as the 'yellow line,' where return is impossible.
- Israel has conducted extensive bombing campaigns, targeting houses, civilian infrastructure like bridges, and entire villages.
- Human rights groups have stated that the widespread demolition of border villages by Israel could constitute a war crime.
- Israel claims its actions are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure, while critics argue this does not justify the large-scale destruction.
- More than 2,846 people have been killed and 8,693 wounded by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the conflict began.
- Despite a ceasefire, fighting continues at a lower intensity, with escalating attacks from both Hezbollah and Israeli forces, raising fears of a complete collapse of the ceasefire.
- The destruction of villages involves extensive use of explosives and heavy machinery, reducing historic settlements to rubble.