Fears Israel could replicate its 'Gaza model' in Lebanon as satellite imagery captures widespread destruction

Bridges blown up.

Bridges blown up. Homes destroyed. More than 1 million people displaced. And plans for Israeli control over a vast swath of territory for an indefinite period.

Fears over Israel’s vow to model its invasion of southern Lebanon after its yearslong, deadly military offensive in Gaza are being increasingly voiced as satellite imagery shows the intensifying destruction in the country’s south — and a growing number of Israeli military bases established in the area.

Aid workers on the ground have described a spiraling humanitarian situation with no end in sight after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced this week his country would be establishing a “security zone” in southern Lebanon and taking control of key river crossings, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes indefinitely.

A building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, on Thursday. Humanitarian groups have warned of whole residential areas being destroyed as they sound the alarm over the mounting destruction and rising death toll in Lebanon.Hussein Malla / APKatz compared Israel’s offensive in southern Lebanon to its operations in some of the most devastated parts of the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, a border city that was largely reduced to rubble during Israel’s more than two-year assault on the enclave. He warned that families displaced from the area would not be able to return until the safety of residents of northern Israel from attacks from Iran-backed Hezbollah could be guaranteed.

Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military action in the south, with the Israel Defense Forces announcing Thursday more troops would be joining its ground invasion in southern Lebanon with the aim of expanding its “security zone” there. The IDF said the 162nd division had “begun targeted ground activities against additional targets” alongside the 91st and 36th divisions.