Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a stark warning to Lebanon, threatening to seize additional territory and systematically dismantle national infrastructure utilized by Hezbollah until the militant group is fully disarmed. Katz asserted that the Lebanese government had “deceptively failed to honor its commitment to disarm Hezbollah,” emphasizing that it would “consequently face escalating consequences until this obligation is met.”
This declaration follows the Israeli military’s unprecedented admission on Friday that it targeted and struck the Zrarieh Bridge spanning the Litani River. Military officials described the structure as “a critical crossing point for Hezbollah operatives,” alleging it was used to “accumulate strength and prepare for combat operations.” No concrete evidence was provided to substantiate these claims. The military justified the action as “necessary to neutralize a threat to Israeli civilian populations.”
This incident marks the first official acknowledgment by Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure during its current military campaign in Lebanon, raising significant concerns under international law. While the Geneva Conventions generally prohibit attacks on civilian infrastructure, exceptions exist for assets repurposed for military use. The Israeli Army has not disclosed the legal assessments conducted prior to the strike or reported on potential casualties.
The offensive escalation includes a recent Israeli drone strike on a residential building in Beirut’s predominantly Christian Burj Hammoud district, signaling a potential expansion of target zones. This development occurred shortly after Katz directed the military to broaden its operational scope in Lebanon, cautioning President Michel Aoun that if the government could not curb Hezbollah’s activities, Israel would undertake the task unilaterally.
The current phase of hostilities reignited on March 2nd following Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes for the killing of a senior Iranian commander in US-Israeli operations. Israel’s subsequent aerial bombardment has resulted in over 700 fatalities and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians. Reports from Israeli media indicate that government authorization for this new wave of attacks was secured hours before Hezbollah launched its initial rockets, with sources suggesting the group pre-emptively acted upon intelligence of an imminent Israeli decision against them.
