Israel expanding presence in Lebanon, officials say, as BBC visits occupied areas
The BBC reports on the expanding Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon, highlighting the destruction of villages and the restricted access to the region. The article details the humanitarian impact on local communities and the ongoing tensions involving Hezbollah and UN peacekeeping forces.
Why it matters
This provides critical on-the-ground reporting on a volatile geopolitical conflict that has significant implications for regional stability and international humanitarian law.
Figure caption, Watch: BBC sees Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon
Middle East correspondent , Reporting from southern Lebanon Published 12 minutes ago The drive on the highway by the Mediterranean in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, is scenic and, these days, desolate. Crops lie abandoned and buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes, too many to count, are in ruins.
Near the town of Naqoura, a Lebanese military checkpoint, painted in the white-and-red colours of the national flag, is the last visible sign of the state's presence. Soldiers are positioned behind concrete walls, but the road is empty. A few minutes further south, around a dozen Israeli flags indicate the start of occupied territory. Unless authorised by Israel, no-one can enter.
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