In the historic heart of Bint Jbeil, a 400-year-old Great Mosque once stood as a testament to the city's enduring cultural memory. Today, it lies in ruins, alongside more than 1,500 buildings systematically destroyed by Israeli forces in an escalating military campaign in southern Lebanon. Through meticulous analysis of satellite imagery and open-source intelligence, a visual investigation by Al Jazeera's fact-checking team has revealed a deliberate Israeli policy to render southern Lebanon permanently uninhabitable.
The border villages and towns of southern Lebanon are witnessing a relentless military escalation beyond conventional warfare. Israeli operations have expanded into a policy of systematically wiping out civilian homes, residential neighborhoods and vital infrastructure. This pattern has drawn direct comparisons to the Israeli regime's brutal tactics in the Gaza Strip, which lies in ruins. Legal experts, analysts and local officials warn that the ultimate objective is the emptying of residential geography, carving out a depopulated buffer zone that permanently prevents displaced residents from returning.
Mohammad Bazzi, the mayor of Bint Jbeil, told Al Jazeera that the extensive destruction reflects an organized campaign targeting civilian architecture and identity. He noted with alarm that these systematic demolitions have proceeded unabated even after the announcement of a ceasefire in November 2024, suggesting a long-term strategy of territorial erasure rather than immediate tactical necessity. Bint Jbeil has emerged as the epicenter of this devastation, with 93 percent of documented demolitions occurring within the Nabatieh governorate.
Aerial data and satellite imagery reveal that more than 70 percent of the city has been totally destroyed, with another 20 percent partially damaged, bringing the affected urban footprint to more than 90 percent. Approximately 3,000 housing units have been completely leveled. The demolitions have been heavily concentrated in the city's commercial center and its oldest neighborhoods. The destruction has stretched far beyond residential buildings to power stations, water networks, schools and hospitals, including the Salah Ghandour Hospital. Agricultural land has been razed and subjected to incendiary weapons and white phosphorus munitions.
Israeli military reports openly highlight the strategic importance of Bint Jbeil and the neighboring town of Maroun al-Ras, which overlook illegal northern Israeli settlements. The Israeli regime's 98th Division has completed the encirclement of the Bint Jbeil area as part of Operation Northern Arrows. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly stated that his forces were continuing to strike Hezbollah mercilessly and were close to concluding the battle in Bint Jbeil, confirming instructions to expand the security belt and intensify presence within the newly created buffer zone.
In direct response, Hezbollah released a defiant video message vowing to thwart the Israeli regime's efforts to establish a buffer zone over the ruins of southern Lebanese communities. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared that illegal Israeli settlements will not be safe. For the 2,000 families forcibly displaced from Bint Jbeil, the loss of their homes, heritage and livelihoods is absolute. Yet, despite the destruction of historic mosques and neighborhoods, the resolve of its residents remains unshaken. Bazzi urged immediate international intervention to halt the blatant violations of international law.
Source: www.aljazeera.com