A visual investigation published by Le Monde found that nearly 45% of towns and villages across southern Lebanon were heavily damaged or destroyed during the 2026 war between Israel and Hezbollah, underscoring the scale of devastation that has reshaped vast stretches of the country’s border region.

The investigation, based on satellite imagery, geolocation analysis, municipal mapping and open-source intelligence, described destruction on a scale that extended far beyond isolated battle zones, with entire communities near the Israeli border left in ruins.

According to the report, many villages displayed patterns of destruction resembling systematic clearing operations rather than solely damage caused by airstrikes or active combat. Entire residential blocks, roads, farmland and municipal infrastructure were wiped out in some areas, particularly along what Israel designated as the “yellow line” security zone inside southern Lebanon.

Satellite analysis cited in the investigation found that at least 46 out of 54 towns and villages located within the zone were heavily damaged or flattened. Some of the worst-hit communities included Kfar Kila, Khiyam, Naqoura, Bint Jbeil, Beit Lif, Houla, Taybeh and Mays El Jabal.

The report highlighted the destruction of frontline towns such as Bint Jbeil, where residential neighborhoods, mosques, schools and public buildings were heavily damaged or leveled. Satellite imagery and visual evidence reviewed by investigators reportedly showed bulldozed neighborhoods, controlled demolitions and large cleared corridors near the frontier.

The investigation said villages inside the “yellow line” buffer zone experienced the most concentrated destruction. The zone, which reportedly extended across roughly 550 to 600 square kilometers — about 5% to 6% of Lebanese territory — was established by Israel to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing positions near the border.

According to the report, entire strips of housing disappeared inside the zone, while roads, orchards and agricultural infrastructure were severely damaged. Residents were also reportedly prevented from returning to many of the affected areas.

The findings suggest that destruction continued even after ceasefire arrangements were announced. Citing ACLED data, the investigation noted that nearly 270 demolitions were documented, with 57% occurring after the April 16 ceasefire announcement.

The report described ongoing bulldozing operations, explosive demolitions, drone activity and continued airstrikes during periods officially considered part of the truce.

The scale of damage extended across civilian infrastructure. Estimates cited in related reporting indicated that nearly 100,000 civilian buildings were damaged or destroyed, including around 27,000 homes completely flattened.

Additional damage reportedly included:

• 182 public buildings destroyed,

• 35 schools damaged or destroyed,

• and nine historical landmarks ruined.

The war also devastated agriculture and public utilities in southern Lebanon. More than 56,000 hectares of farmland nationwide were reportedly affected, including around 18,559 hectares directly damaged in southern Lebanon.

Investigators also documented damage to approximately 11,075 hectares of fruit trees and 6,600 hectares of olive groves, alongside destroyed irrigation systems and scorched farmland.

Humanitarian assessments cited in the report further indicated that at least 1,100 solar panels serving water infrastructure were destroyed and that electrical systems linked to 26 water pumping stations were damaged, disrupting services for more than 500,000 people.

More than 800,000 people were reportedly displaced during the conflict, while many border villages were described as effectively uninhabitable.

The investigation raised broader legal and humanitarian questions over whether some of the destruction may have exceeded military necessity. Human rights organizations and legal experts cited in the report questioned whether demolitions carried out after areas had come under Israeli control could constitute unlawful destruction under international humanitarian law.

Israel has maintained that its operations targeted Hezbollah infrastructure embedded within civilian areas and were intended to prevent future attacks along the border.

The investigation concluded that the war fundamentally transformed southern Lebanon, leaving behind depopulated border regions and widespread destruction that could take years to rebuild.