When Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, two days after Israel and the United States launched a war on Iran, the resulting Israeli operation to destroy the group quickly became a mission to flatten swathes of southern Lebanon.
As Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes across the country, soldiers seized more territory in the south. Ground operations began to take on the appearance of those seen in Gaza: bulldozers tearing down buildings and demolitions razing whole villages to the ground.
Even after last week’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, those ground operations have continued.
A CNN review of satellite imagery reveals the scale of the destruction.
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Hundreds of buildings – most of which appear to be homes – have been either completely flattened or rendered uninhabitable.
Satellite imagery and videos from after the April 16 ceasefire announcement show demolitions continuing apace, with excavators and armored vehicles clearly visible.
Rights groups have sounded the alarm, warning that Israel’s military offensive is mirroring tactics used in Gaza – from heavy strikes on critical infrastructure and healthcare facilities, to the targeting of journalists and psychological warfare.
Israeli officials have outlined plans for a long-term “security zone” inside the border – though the preferred terminology now is a “forward defense line area” - with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his forces will expand their positions 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep inside Lebanon.
As Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes across the country, soldiers seized more territory in the south. Ground operations began to take on the appearance of those seen in Gaza: bulldozers tearing down buildings and demolitions razing whole villages to the ground.
Even after last week’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, those ground operations have continued.
A CNN review of satellite imagery reveals the scale of the destruction.
slon6 to
Hundreds of buildings – most of which appear to be homes – have been either completely flattened or rendered uninhabitable.
Satellite imagery and videos from after the April 16 ceasefire announcement show demolitions continuing apace, with excavators and armored vehicles clearly visible.
Rights groups have sounded the alarm, warning that Israel’s military offensive is mirroring tactics used in Gaza – from heavy strikes on critical infrastructure and healthcare facilities, to the targeting of journalists and psychological warfare.
Israeli officials have outlined plans for a long-term “security zone” inside the border – though the preferred terminology now is a “forward defense line area” - with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his forces will expand their positions 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep inside Lebanon.
