News|Israel attacks LebanonLebanon’s Aoun warns Israeli attack on bridge ‘prelude to ground invasion’Israeli army chief says the operation against Hezbollah “has only begun” and would be “prolonged”.
On Sun, Israeli forces targeted the Qasmiyeh Bridge, an essential crossing in southern Lebanon, following directives from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. This military action is part of an initiative to eliminate crossings over the Litani River, as…
On Sun, Israeli forces targeted the Qasmiyeh Bridge, an essential crossing in southern Lebanon, following directives from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. This military action is part of an initiative to eliminate crossings over the Litani River, as well as structures near the border shared with Lebanon.
This attack marks a significant intensification in the ongoing military campaign against Hezbollah, which recommenced on March 2. The Lebanese armed group had previously launched rockets into Israel, causing a retaliatory response. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun remarked that these attacks are intended to disrupt the geographical connectivity between southern Litani and the rest of Lebanon.
According to Katz, the strategy involves targeting crossings and residential areas in border-vicinity settlements to mitigate threats against Israeli communities. This approach is compared to past operations in Beit Hanoun and Rafah in Gaza.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir announced the preparation for advancing targeted ground operations and strikes according to a structured plan. The Lebanese government has expressed its intent to hold direct discussions with Israel, emphasizing the prohibition of Hezbollah military activity within its borders.
On Sun, Israeli forces targeted the Qasmiyeh Bridge, an essential crossing in southern Lebanon, following directives from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Humanitarian Impact and International Response
Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss has highlighted that the widespread destruction of homes in southern Lebanon could constitute a war crime, emphasizing the necessity of considering civilian harm in military operations.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported four fatalities on Sunday due to strikes in the south, with a total of 1,029 deaths and over one million people displaced due to the conflict. An Israeli civilian was recently killed in an incident near the Lebanese border, marking the first civilian casualty from Lebanese territory in the current conflict.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to express concerns about the potential scale and duration of a ground operation.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
