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\n 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.\n <\/p>\n
\n Israeli forces launched \u201ctwo consecutive airstrikes\u201d on the Qasmiyeh Bridge connecting the coastal city of Sidon to the southern city of Tyre, \u201ccompletely destroying it,\u201d the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cPrior to these airstrikes, a drone had also carried out two separate attacks near the same bridge,\u201d NNA said.\n <\/p>\n
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Smoke and explosions in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon\n <\/p>\n
Smoke and explosions in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon<\/p>\n
01:09 <\/p>\n
\n 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.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Israeli military claimed to CNN that forces \u201cdid not target\u201d the bridge, but added that they did attack \u201cin its vicinity.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Israel has intensified deadly strikes in southern Lebanon recent days \u2013 even as regional officials push<\/a> 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 \u201cno-go zone for Hezbollah operatives.\u201d 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.\n <\/p>\n