A BBC team traveling with a United Nations peacekeeping force has observed an expanded Israeli military presence in occupied southern Lebanon, where officials report Israel is entrenching its positions. The BBC's observation occurred in August as part of a humanitarian mission with the UN force in Lebanon, known as Unifil, which provides one of the few avenues to visit the occupied territories.
According to Western and Lebanese officials who spoke with the BBC, Israeli forces have flattened entire villages in the region. These air strikes and demolitions have persisted even after a ceasefire was announced in June between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah. Israel's stated objective is to establish what it terms a "security zone" to deter Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. The Israeli military asserts that destroyed buildings were utilized by Hezbollah for military purposes.
The BBC team's visit was facilitated by the Israeli military through a deconfliction mechanism with the UN, allowing access to the occupied areas.