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Israel is reportedly expanding its military presence in occupied southern Lebanon, a region that is the heartland of the Shia Muslim community and a stronghold for Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia. The area has seen multiple Israeli invasions over the past two decades, with the most recent conflict beginning in March after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel.
Last month, a BBC team joined a humanitarian mission with the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, to visit areas under Israeli control. Reports indicate that Israel has established four new military bases in the region, bringing the total to nine. Unifil has expressed concerns over the destruction of civilian infrastructure, which some human rights groups argue could constitute war crimes.
The Israeli military claims that its operations are in response to threats from Hezbollah. However, Lebanese authorities report a significant increase in Israeli military actions, including air strikes and incursions, raising tensions in the region and complicating the possibility of civilian return to their homes.