Israeli Strikes Put Southern Lebanon’s Qasmiyeh Bridge Out of Service

(MENAFN) Israeli airstrikes on Sunday targeted the strategic Qasmiyeh Bridge along the coastal highway in southern Lebanon, rendering it inoperable amid escalating field operations and earlier threats to destroy crossings used by local residents over the Litani River.

The bridge was hit by three consecutive strikes near the Burj Rahhal area, causing severe structural damage and leaving large sections nearly destroyed, as stated by reports. Civilians were observed seeking alternative routes or detours to reach towns in southern Lebanon.

Following the attack, Lebanese army forces redeployed around the bridge area, while South Korean troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were positioned nearby after evacuating a checkpoint previously stationed at the crossing.

In addition, Israeli aircraft struck the Arzi bridge, a smaller offshoot of the Qasmiyeh Bridge, following earlier warnings, heightening tensions in the areas connecting southern Litani to Tyre and Sidon. Civil defense teams affiliated with the Islamic Risala Scouts cautioned civilians against using bridges under threat of further strikes, while local and international journalists gathered to document developments.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, calling the targeting of essential infrastructure “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” warning that it could serve as “a prelude to a ground invasion.” He described the strike on the Qasmiyeh Bridge as “collective punishment against civilians” and said it reflects efforts to sever connections between southern regions and the rest of the country, portraying it as part of a strategy to establish a buffer zone and expand Israeli military presence inside Lebanese territory.

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