Israeli military forces intensified their campaign in southern Lebanon on Sunday by demolishing a strategically vital bridge near Tyre, effectively severing a crucial transport link between the southern region and the remainder of the country. This offensive action, authorized by Defense Minister Israel Katz, targeted all crossings over the Litani River and multiple residential structures in proximity to the Israeli frontier.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), three consecutive Israeli strikes inflicted substantial damage upon the Qasmiyeh Bridge, rendering it completely inoperable. The assault additionally caused significant disruption to local electricity infrastructure while devastating adjacent commercial establishments, agricultural orchards, and public parks. In a subsequent development on Monday, another essential bridge connecting Nabatieh and al-Hujair valley met similar destruction.
Defense Minister Katz explicitly stated that Israel is implementing identical tactical approaches previously deployed during its Gaza operations, where extensive demolition of civilian infrastructure created buffer zones. “Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and I have directed the IDF to immediately eliminate all Litani River bridges utilized for terrorist activities,” Katz declared, asserting these measures would prevent Hezbollah’s southward movement of militants and weaponry.
Israeli military spokespersons signaled further escalation, with Effie Defrin indicating expanded ground operations would commence within days. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir characterized the conflict as “prolonged,” emphasizing that current actions represent merely the initial phase of a comprehensive campaign against Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the bridge attacks as “flagrant violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty” and potential precursors to full-scale ground invasion. He accused Israel of pursuing “suspicious schemes to establish a buffer zone” that would effectively consolidate territorial occupation.
The current hostilities erupted following Hezbollah’s retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli operation. The Shia organization has claimed responsibility for approximately sixty attacks that have killed at least two Israeli soldiers. Meanwhile, Lebanese health authorities report over 1,029 fatalities and one million displaced persons, with UNICEF revealing that children have been suffering classroom-equivalent casualties daily.