The Israeli army destroyed another strategic bridge over southern Lebanon’s Litani River that links the country's south to the rest of the country on Sunday, in a move condemned by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as "collective punishment".
The destruction of the Qasmiyeh Bridge came hours after renewed fighting with Hezbollah and a barrage of missiles hit Israel.
The Qasmiyeh Bridge is one of the most strategically important crossings in southern Lebanon, serving as a coastal artery that links areas north of the Litani River, including Sidon, with the south towards Tyre and Naqoura. The destruction of the bridge isolates southern Lebanon and has significant humanitarian implications, affecting evacuation routes and aid access.
"These attacks constitute a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and are a prelude to a ground invasion that Lebanon has long warned against through diplomatic channels," Mr Aoun said in a statement on X shortly after the bridge was destroyed.
"These moves reflect a dangerous tendency towards the systematic destruction of infrastructure, civilian facilities, and residential areas in Lebanese villages, amounting to a policy of collective punishment against civilians, which is unacceptable, condemned, and unjustified," he said.
Mr Aoun added that targeting bridges across the Litani River was "an attempt to sever the geographical connection between the southern Litani region and the rest of Lebanese territory" that impedes the delivery of humanitarian aid and "falls within suspicious schemes to establish a buffer zone, solidify the occupation, and pursue Israeli expansion within Lebanese territory".
Defence Minister Israel Katz had ordered the army to destroy “all bridges over the Litani River” that the country claims are used by Hezbollah.
Mr Katz also said Israel would “accelerate the destruction of Lebanese houses” in areas close to the border, “in accordance with the Beit Hanoun and Rafah models in Gaza,” two of the most bombarded areas of the strip throughout the Gaza War.
Israel has waged a sustained air campaign to isolate the south from the rest of the country with the aim of eradicating Hezbollah and establishing a buffer zone south of the Litani River. Israel has severed crossings between the north and south, accusing Hezbollah of using them to smuggle weapons.
It has attacked bridges, destroyed electricity and water providers, and razed civilian homes and villages – hindering residents from remaining in towns across south Lebanon.
Since the war with Hezbollah reignited, Israel has killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, including 100 children and dozens of medics. More than a million have been displaced, and the latest Israeli ground offensive is worsening the humanitarian crisis.
In Israel, one person has been killed after a fire broke out in two vehicles near the northern Galilee area, emergency services say. It happened after the Israeli military reported strikes launched from Lebanon towards a community along Israel's northern border.
Emergency services said medics reported that a man was found “trapped in a vehicle, showing no signs of life”. The military reported injuries and damage, without providing details.
As Israel advances into south Lebanon amid a fierce defence from Hezbollah, those caught in the conflict are facing a prospect many are afraid to say out loud. If they leave their villages and cities now – if Israel establishes a buffer zone inside Lebanese territory – they may never be able to return.
Despite this, about 32,000 people have chosen to stay in Tyre and its surrounding villages, according to Mortada Mhanna, the head of Tyre's Disaster Management Union. He is among those making a last stand.
“If there’s only one person left in Tyre, it will be me,” he told The National during a tour in the city.
