BEIRUT, November 5. /TASS/. Twenty-nine towns and villages in southern Lebanon have been laid to waste in the course of Israel’s ground operation that kicked off on October 1, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said, citing local experts.

According to the newspaper, for the entire month, Israeli units have been mining and blowing up houses in settlements located along the 120-kilometer borderline from Ras Al Naqoura to Shebaa. In all, according to expert estimates, some 25,000 houses have been destroyed.

The newspaper cited military analyst General Hassan Juni as saying that such actions reveal Israel’s plans to create a "3-5-kilometer deep lifeless buffer zone in Lebanese territory." Lebanon’s damage is estimated at $20 billion.