In a quiet stretch of Mediterranean coast, the once‑vibrant fields of southern Lebanon now lie abandoned amid Israeli military checkpoints. The BBC team journeyed through a UN‑led convoy that showed how Israeli forces have entrenched themselves, building defensive walls, demolishing houses, and installing netting to guard against Hezbollah drones. Israeli officials defend their actions as a security zone, yet human rights groups warn of deliberate destruction. Lebanon’s army says it cannot achieve Hezbollah’s disarmament without the militant group’s consent, stalling any chance of withdrawal.
The region’s futures appear increasingly uncertain as Israel prepares for a long‑term presence amid the fragile ceasefire established with Iran and the U.S. last summer.
The deserted stretch of Mediterranean coast that once buzzed with rural activity now bears the scars of Israeli military occupation. As the BBC crew traveled the rural highway at 7 a.m., fields lay abandoned, and the town of Naqoura revealed the sole remaining Lebanese military checkpoint—its concrete walls stark against empty roads.
Across the border, a row of Israeli flags marked the boundary of their occupied zone; infrastructure and buildings in the area have been demolished or heavily damaged in air‑strikes. The area serves as a strategic foothold for Hezbollah’s supporters, a region that Israel has invaded during recent wars to secure a so‑called "security zone".
A UN‑led convoy—led by Finnish troops—was the only allowed entry into the occupied territory. The convoy, travelling along the wall separating Lebanon and Israel, witnessed the construction of Israeli service roads, the housing of thousands of soldiers, and defensive nets covering residences meant to thwart Hezbollah drones.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel would "take all necessary steps to prepare for a long‑term presence in the area". The ministry insists that the occupied positions are used to protect Israeli communities from rocket attacks and potential future invasions.
The UN’s Unifil spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel noted that the Israeli military had already established four additional bases in the invaded territories. These bases, she said, are part of the broader strategy to consolidate and fortify Israeli positions.
Human rights groups argue that the demolition of civilian homes in the occupied zone exceeds the justification of security and could constitute a war crime. Lebanese intelligence officers report over 5,000 violations by Israel—air strikes, drone attacks, shelling, and daily incursions across the border that violate the ceasefire.
Israel’s strategy relies on a stalled disarmament process of Hezbollah. Lebanese officials contend that any withdrawal is contingent on the militant group’s consent—a condition they are unlikely to meet given Hezbollah’s steadfast opposition.
With no evident political change before Israel’s election in October, analysts hint that the current conflict may mirror the Gaza situation, where Israeli forces may become entrenched and remain for the foreseeable future.
The story unfolds through a series of images that capture the nuanced reality: men in Israeli uniforms standing in a former Lebanese building, soldiers driving along the demarcation wall, and nets lacing around quiet homes turned military infrastructure. These snapshots power a deeper understanding of the occupation’s enduring impact on the region and its people.
