The Israeli military demolished the final crossing over the Litani River, which bisects Lebanon, on Thursday, according to Lebanese state media, cutting off tens of thousands of residents in the south from crucial aid links.
Israeli forces launched “two consecutive airstrikes” on the Qasmiyeh Bridge connecting the coastal city of Sidon to the southern city of Tyre, “completely destroying it,” the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported.
“Prior to these airstrikes, a drone had also carried out two separate attacks near the same bridge,” NNA said.
Smoke and explosions in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon
Smoke and explosions in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon
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A series of huge explosions lined the horizon near the bridge on Thursday, in footage from the aftermath, as huge clouds of smoke tumbled through green pastures.
The Israeli military claimed to CNN that forces “did not target” the bridge, but added that they did attack “in its vicinity.”
Israel has intensified deadly strikes in southern Lebanon recent days – even as regional officials push for a direct call between Israeli and Lebanese leaders to end the violence. Just on Wednesday, the Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir told troops to turn neighborhoods south of the Litani River into a “no-go zone for Hezbollah operatives.” Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that Israeli attacks on vital infrastructure for civilians trying to access medical care, food and relief in Lebanon may amount to war crimes.
Between March 12 and April 8, Israeli forces “systematically destroyed or severely damaged all main bridges” connecting areas south of the Litani River to the rest of Lebanon, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), making the Qasmiyeh Bridge the “sole main remaining operational crossing” as of April 10.
“These strikes had significantly limited the ability of civilians to move safely and of state institutions, humanitarian organizations, hospitals, and healthcare facilities to deliver aid and provide medical care,” HRW added.
CNN’s Eugenia Yosef contributed reporting.