Israeli forces flatten villages in occupied southern Lebanon as civilians face displacement
CNN reporters witnessed extensive demolition of homes in Israel's occupied southern Lebanon, where a handful of Christian villages remain accessible only via UN-led convoys, while the Lebanese army struggles to assert authority amid ongoing strikes.
CNN was granted rare access to Israel-occupied southern Lebanon, traveling with a convoy of residents permitted to reach three predominantly Christian villages—Rmeish, Ain Ebel and Debel—while surrounding Shia-majority towns lie in ruins. The Israeli military has maintained a security zone about 10 km deep since its March invasion, citing the need to protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah rocket fire.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has pledged to destroy homes near the border, and residents report daily controlled demolitions in neighboring villages. The Lebanese Ministry of Health says more than 4,300 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since March 2, and the United Nations estimates over 350,000 displaced.
In Rmeish, families such as Ronnie and Rita Alam have been forced to live apart; Rita expressed sorrow at being separated from her husband after returning to the village for the first time in four months. "Civilians have nothing to do with this. Why should they lose their homes? This destruction is a shame… and for what? For war? We don’t want war!" she said.
Ain Ebel resident Yorgos Mitri, who has lived through the conflict for years, blamed Hezbollah for triggering the war and lamented the devastation of nearby towns like Bint Jbeil, while urging coexistence with Shia neighbours.
Under a U.S.-led framework agreement signed in June, Israel is supposed to hand over small “pilot zones” to the Lebanese army. The first zone, Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, is under Lebanese control, but Israeli tanks and bulldozers remain nearby and demolition continues. Colonel Raja Amer, assistant to the commander of the South Litani sector, said his troops face “a very demanding and challenging security environment” and need more capabilities. The Lebanese army, strained by the economic crisis, has recorded more than 5,000 Israeli attacks since the agreement.
Hezbollah symbols still line many roads, reflecting the group’s continued support in Shia areas. Israeli officials argue the Lebanese army is not disarming Hezbollah quickly enough, while Lebanese law restricts army searches without judicial warrants.
Negotiations over a permanent withdrawal have stalled, and Israel’s defense minister has indicated the army will not leave even if the United States demands it. With Israeli elections approaching, the issue remains a focal point of domestic politics.