Satellite images show vast destruction in Lebanon border villages: NYT

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The New York Times
30 Oct 2024 21:36

NYT's latest report on Lebanon describes extensive damage in towns, with some almost entirely flattened, leaving only a few buildings standing.

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Rescue workers use excavators to remove the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit Tuesday night in an Israeli airstrike, as they search for victims in Sarafand, South Lebanon, Wednesday, October 30, 2024. (AP)

The New York Times on Wednesday published a report detailing the widespread destruction across six villages in southern Lebanon following "Israel's" October 1 offensive.

Using satellite imagery, NYT verified that 1,085 buildings were leveled or badly damaged in areas along Lebanon’s southern border, including the villages of Meis al-Jabal, Aita al-Shaab, Blida, and Kfar Kila.

The report describes extensive damage, with some villages almost entirely flattened, leaving only a few buildings standing.

Israeli troops operate with such impunity that they post videos of themselves cheering while they blow up villages in Lebanon. Like destroying people’s lives and homes is for their entertainment. pic.twitter.com/y5jQvG77pI
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) October 30, 2024

The investigation shows that "Israel" has engaged in controlled demolitions in several towns, citing Hezbollah's alleged use of civilian areas for military purposes.

The Israeli military claimed that Hezbollah had established infrastructure within civilian areas and that they had issued evacuation warnings before strikes.

South Lebanon |

I’m not an expert in international law, but this doesn’t seem like self-defense—it looks like pure terrorism.

Found on a soldier account pic.twitter.com/39tBP75KBT
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) October 27, 2024

However, international law experts are raising concerns, noting that civilian structures can only be lawfully targeted if there is concrete evidence of military use.

Tom Dannenbaum, a professor of international law, warned that targeting an area mixed with civilian and military objects raises legal and ethical issues under international law.

Israel is wiping out border village after border village in South Lebanon.

Centuries-old villages.

When ISIS did this in Syria and Iraq, the whole world went crazy.

But when Israel systematically does the exact same thing in Palestine and Lebanon, nobody bats an eyelash. pic.twitter.com/wz2HYqsPLl
— sarah (@sahouraxo) October 29, 2024

The war has led to the mass displacement of Lebanese civilians, with the UN reporting over 1.4 million people displaced across the country.

Earlier today, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported a number of Israeli airstrikes on the Khiam village, while the occupation's artillery shelled Mount Sadana heights and Shebaa.

The occupation also targeted the town of Ansar in the Nabatieh district, as well as the Khardali River course and Barghoz.

In Sarafand, search operations are still ongoing for three missing persons who were inside the building targeted and leveled by the Israeli occupation on Tuesday night.

Lebanon's Baalbek city under fire

Israeli airstrikes have further recently intensified in Lebanon's western region, specifically targeting the town of Baalbek and surrounding areas.

According to latest reports, Israeli occupation aircraft launched a series of violent raids on Baalbek and its surroundings, targeting residential neighborhoods in the hills of Ras al-Ain, Aamachki, al-Asirah, the Kayyal road, and both northern and southern entrances to Baalbek.

Israeli warplanes also targeted Ain Bourday, Douris, diesel tanks in their vicinity, the outskirts of Shmistar, the town of I'aat and surrounding areas, while also launching heavy airstrikes on Sohmor and Libbaya in western Bekaa.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's Health Ministry announced that the toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 2,822 martyrs, and 12,937 wounded, with 30 killed and 165 wounded following the Israeli aggression on Tuesday.