Israel destroys more than 1,400 buildings in southern Lebanon

The  Israeli occupation forces continue their bloody violations of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon for the truce, as  at dawn today and last night,  8 people were killed in Israeli raids on different areas of southern Lebanon, including 5 from one family who fell in a new massacre in the town of Jibshit.

Lebanese media reported that three members of the Lebanese Civil Defense were killed in a raid in the town of Majdal Zone while carrying out a rescue mission, which also resulted in the injury of two Lebanese soldiers.

These attacks sparked widespread Lebanese condemnation, with President Joseph Aoun condemning  the targeting of medics, considering it evidence that Israel continues to violate international conventions.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the targeting as a "war crime" that violates the rules of international humanitarian law, stressing that the government will mobilize efforts to compel Israel to stop its violations.

Scorched Earth Policy

In a related context, the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" revealed, quoting field testimonies of officers and soldiers, that a pivotal part of Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon is not focused on direct fighting, but on extensive and "systematic" demolitions of buildings in villages.

The newspaper quoted military commanders as saying: "We are not talking about destroying armed infrastructure. We are destroying everything."

According to the testimonies, the Israeli army is  tasked with providing protection for demolitions carried out by bulldozers belonging to "Israeli contractors" who receive their wages according to the incentive system based on the number of buildings that are demolished.

  A BBC analysis, based on visual evidence and satellite imagery, revealed that more than 1,400 buildings have been destroyed in southern Lebanon since March 2, including simultaneous bombings that have destroyed large parts of towns such as Taybeh, Aita al-Shaab, Khayyam, and a compound.

The headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Naqoura was also damaged, which saw the destruction of more than 100 buildings. Legal experts say the destruction of entire villages is not a military necessity and may amount to a "war crime".

The dilemma of the marches

As Israel continues its systematic destruction, Hezbollah is demonstrating the ability to thwart attempts to stabilize Israel's deterrence equation by targeting its forces.

The Israeli occupation army admitted  to being injured as a result of a Hezbollah drone falling near forces in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening, considering the threat of drones a "very important challenge."

Haaretz quotes Israeli soldiers as asserting that they are exposed and unprotected from Hezbollah drones, and that the IDF does not have an effective defense against this "cheap and accurate" weapon, while an officer revealed that the drones pounce from the roofs of buildings, and when they arrive, it is too late.

In an attempt to counter this threat, the army decided to reduce the duration of its helicopters landing inside Lebanon to evacuate the wounded, and began using rifles, special binoculars, shrapnel ammunition, and even improvised solutions such as covering sites with drone nets.

Israeli military experts explain that Hezbollah has learned to guide drones with a thin string of "optical fibers" to circumvent monitoring devices, confusing Israel's air defense systems.

Consolidating the "Yellow Line"

As part of its quest to reshape the balance of power, Israel continues to entrench the "yellow line" it declared on April 18.

This line extends from Ras Naqoura to the eastern Lebanon mountain range, and aims to isolate 55 border villages as a "reinforced buffer zone". Tel Aviv considers anyone who approaches this line a "legitimate target."

In this context, the Israeli occupation army decided  to  deploy radars on a large scale inside Lebanon, considering that the "yellow line" has now become the new line of defense.

Yesterday,  the  occupation army blew up what it said was a "large tunnel for Hezbollah" in the town of Qantara, causing strong ground tremors that were felt in the border towns.

Israeli War Minister Yisrael Katz said southern Lebanon would face "the fate of the Gaza Strip," adding that the army had destroyed underground infrastructure in the new security zone.

The two-week deadline and Trump's diplomacy

Politically, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation revealed that  the Israeli authorities have set a  two-week deadline for Lebanon to reach a "real agreement" during the negotiations, threatening to resume fighting and launch intensive military operations against Hezbollah if the period passes without a result.

The deadline comes amid U.S. pressure, with President Donald Trump asking Benjamin Netanyahu to "exercise restraint and not jeopardize the ceasefire" during a phone call on Monday.

Although Netanyahu presented the content of the conversation to the Cabinet, he reiterated his statements that the agreement allows Israel to respond to immediate and emerging threats.

Israeli sources indicate that Netanyahu is now calling for patience in Trump's wishes, in the hope that war will break out again in Iran, and then Israel will renew its attacks with greater force.

The current war against Lebanon began on March 2, and the 10-day ceasefire went into effect on April 17 and was extended for three weeks later at the request of President Trump.