BEIRUT (Dispatches) -- Israeli 
occupation forces have significantly escalated their campaign of systematic demolitions across southern Lebanon, blowing up scores of houses, a public school, water wells and civilian infrastructure — including a massive 1,100-ton detonation on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge that triggered a 4.1-magnitude seismic tremor felt across the region.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Friday that Israeli forces “blew up the majority” of a public school in the town of Mansouri, in the Tyre district, leaving only a small section intact. 
The demolition was accompanied by an Israeli airstrike on the town, where more than 75 explosions have been recorded over the past week. Israeli forces also blew up two artesian wells used to supply water in Mansouri.
Large-scale controlled demolitions were carried out in Mays al-Jabal, Bani Hayyan and other areas, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent. 
“Since midnight last night, Mansouri and its surrounding areas have witnessed more than 10 powerful explosions,” the correspondent reported, saying strong tremors were felt by residents of Tyre and surrounding villages.
Two Israeli airstrikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa on Thursday afternoon as the demolitions intensified across the south, NNA reported. Israeli forces also carried out a major explosion in the Al-Dabesh area, west of Mays al-Jabal, destroying a waste-sorting facility as well as several homes and industrial and agricultural installations.
Explosions were also reported in Baraachit, Bani Hayyan and the outskirts of Srobbine. In Meiss El Jabal, Israeli forces destroyed a waste-sorting facility along with homes and agricultural infrastructure. Artillery shelling targeted Kfar Tibnit, while warplanes struck the area between Zibqin and Shihin southeast of Tyre.
NNA says Israel has been using new methods to destroy homes, including drones dropping explosive-filled barrels onto rooftops before detonating them remotely. 
The Associated Press reported Friday that displaced residents of Mansouri gathered in neighboring Hanniyeh to watch Israeli drones carrying explosives descend on their village as homes were destroyed.
The Israeli military destroyed an underground complex beneath Ali al-Taher ridge, using more than 1,100 tons of explosives to demolish a tunnel network extending more than two kilometers. The blast triggered a 4.1-magnitude tremor recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his terrorist war minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in the area to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities.
Katz declared that a “security zone” now extends from the western coast to the Ali al-Taher ridge and the approaches to Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) in Syria.
Retired Brig. Gen. Hassan Jouni told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel is “reshaping the geography” of southern Lebanon, with homes destroyed “solely because of where they stand.”