Towns and villages in southern Lebanon are being levelled by Israeli demolitions, satellite images and videos obtained by BBC Verify reveal. Analysis found over 1,400 buildings had been destroyed since March 2, 2026, based on verified visual evidence. This is only a portion of the overall damage caused by Israeli airstrikes and demolitions, with limited access on the ground indicating even higher losses. The demolitions follow Defence Minister Israel Katz's directive to expedite demolitions of homes near the Israeli border as part of a campaign against Hezbollah. International law experts have indicated that the systematic demolition of these structures could amount to a war crime. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims to operate within the Law of Armed Conflict and asserts that destruction is only permitted for military necessity, citing that Hezbollah allegedly embeds military infrastructure within civilian areas. Following recent escalated attacks from Hezbollah, the IDF initiated airstrikes and a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, leading to widespread civilian displacement. The UN estimates that over 1.2 million people, including 820,000 from the south, have been forcibly displaced due to the conflict, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting over 2,000 fatalities from the ongoing war. Satellite imagery analysis highlights that Lebanese border towns and villages, previously characterized by their historic architecture, have now succumbed to dust and debris from explosions, with plans for an Israeli-controlled security zone threatening to effectively annex portions of Lebanese territory. Experts in international law argue that destruction is only justified under dire military necessity and that the current situation appears to exceed what is permissible under international humanitarian law.