Following the outbreak of hostilities on 2 March, southern Lebanon has experienced extensive destruction and displacement, as Israel launched a sustained military campaign against Hezbollah positions and areas it identified as supporting the group. The conflict began hours after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, prompting the Israeli military to issue forced evacuation orders for over 100 villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border. This initiated a sequence of evacuations and airstrikes, displacing more than 1.2 million people, primarily from southern Lebanon.

Initially, residents south of the Litani River were ordered to move north on 4 March. Subsequently, on 12 March, Israel expanded its evacuation directives up to the Zahrani River and later included southern suburbs of Beirut. Overall, these maneuvers resulted in approximately 14.3% of Lebanese territory being designated as no-go zones, a mass expulsion amid an intense bombing campaign focused largely on southern Lebanon, the southern outskirts of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley. Between 2 March and 1 May, more than 3,600 Israeli strikes were recorded, targeting homes, vehicles, and critical civilian infrastructure, including bridges.

Israel justifies the destruction of bridges and villages as measures against Hezbollah logistics and military infrastructure. The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, advocated applying tactics similar to those used in Gaza, such as the “Rafah and Beit Hanoun model,” which involves demolishing border villages. Reports revealed the systematic flattening of entire villages along the de facto border zone. Civilian contractors have employed excavators to further demolish residential buildings as active combat intensity waned.

The conflict’s aftermath has left numerous towns in ruins, with many civilians unable to return home, particularly those residing within the area referred to as the “yellow line.” This zone, established by Israel after the 17 April ceasefire, encompasses more than 50 villages and roughly 608 square kilometers of southern Lebanon now under Israeli military occupation. Despite the ceasefire, sporadic airstrikes and cross-border attacks continue, contributing to fears of a protracted, low-intensity conflict rather than a true cessation of hostilities.

Human rights organizations have criticized Israel’s demolition of villages and destruction of civilian infrastructure, warning that such actions may constitute war crimes. They highlight that while Hezbollah may embed military assets within civilian areas, this does not justify the wide-scale devastation inflicted on local communities. In one instance, Israeli forces destroyed a secondary school in Marwahin, claiming it harbored Hezbollah weapons. However, local monitors disputed this, stating the alleged weapons were hunting rifles seized by authorities and documented as evidence in a courtroom, not found on school grounds.

Casualty figures underline the heavy toll on Lebanon’s civilian population. Since the conflict’s start, over 2,800 people have been killed and nearly 8,700 wounded by Israeli strikes. Although the intensity of casualties has decreased following the ceasefire, deaths from airstrikes continue to be reported. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has increasingly targeted Israeli troops in southern Lebanon with mounting effectiveness, and Israel has conducted strikes further north, including in southern Beirut’s suburbs.

The ongoing hostilities and territorial occupation have heightened concerns among Lebanese citizens about the durability of the ceasefire. With armistice negotiations scheduled in Washington, many fear that a breakdown in talks could reignite full-scale warfare, threatening further devastation for the country.