In a recent development, the Israeli army targeted a bridge on Sunday in a series of raids against Hezbollah, a bridge that they claim was used by the pro-Iranian movement, sparking fears of a “ground invasion” according to the Lebanese president. Images show smoke rising after the attack on the Qasmiyeh bridge, located on the main coastal road connecting the region of Tyre to the rest of the country.
Le Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has strongly condemned the targeting and destruction of vital infrastructure and facilities by Israel. He described these attacks as a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, warning that they could be a prelude to a ground invasion.
Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, previously ordered the army to “immediately destroy all bridges over the Litani River used for terrorist activities to prevent the passage of Hezbollah and weapons to the south.” This tense situation has been ongoing for almost three weeks now.
The Israeli army is set to “intensify targeted ground operations” and strikes in Lebanon, said the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. He stated that the operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization is just beginning and is a long-term endeavor.
“We are now preparing to escalate targeted ground operations and strikes, according to a structured plan. We will not stop until the threat is pushed away from the border and long-term security is guaranteed to the residents of northern Israel,” he added.
The conflict between the two countries has been ongoing for over three weeks now. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli rescuers reported the death of a person killed by a rocket fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, where the Shiite group Hezbollah has claimed to target soldiers. This marks the first civilian casualty on the northern frontier since the conflict began in early March.
Israeli sources reported that two vehicles were completely engulfed in flames after a direct impact in the Misgav Am kibbutz. Firefighters extracted a casualty from the scene, with reports suggesting that the projectile responsible for the incident was an anti-tank missile.
The Hezbollah movement admitted to targeting “an assembly of Israeli enemy soldiers” in Misgav Am with a rocket barrage on Sunday, as part of a series of attacks against troops in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. The Shiite group entered the war in the Middle East on March 2 to avenge the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Since then, Israel has carried out massive retaliations with a broad campaign of airstrikes on Lebanon and ground advances in a buffer zone along the border, resulting in dozens of casualties and over a million displaced individuals. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also mentioned plans to “accelerate the destruction of Lebanese houses in contact villages on the border to counter the threats facing Israeli communities.”
On Sunday, the official Lebanese news agency Ani reported multiple Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, particularly in the strategic town of Khiam, the coastal city of Naqoura, and the Bekaa Valley. Ground clashes between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli soldiers took place on Saturday in Naqoura and Khiam, with the Israeli army claiming to have killed the “commander of the special forces of the Hezbollah Radwan Force,” the elite unit of the group.
