On Sunday, Israel escalated its military operations in southern Lebanon by launching a broad wave of airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah targets. This offensive followed orders from Israeli leadership to demolish key bridges used by the Iran-backed militant group to facilitate movement and logistics across the Litani River. The Litani, a significant geographical barrier roughly 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border, has become a strategic focal point in the ongoing conflict.
Lebanese state media confirmed that Israeli jets conducted raids across multiple southern regions, with eyewitnesses and correspondents reporting thick plumes of smoke rising from a crucial bridge near the city of Tyre. This development marks a sharp increase in hostilities after a brief period of relative calm that lasted two days. The destruction of infrastructure such as bridges is intended to disrupt Hezbollah’s supply lines and restrict its operational capabilities in the border areas.
The current confrontation traces back to early March when Hezbollah initiated rocket attacks into Israeli territory on March 2, retaliating for the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which was attributed to Israeli and US forces. Since then, the conflict has intensified, with Israel deploying ground troops into Lebanon and conducting extensive aerial bombardments. Hezbollah has maintained its rocket fire, targeting Israeli military positions and communities near the border.
In a statement, the Israeli military described the Sunday strikes as part of a “wide wave” targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Earlier that day, rocket fire originating from Lebanon resulted in the death of one civilian in Israel, marking the first fatality on Israeli soil due to Hezbollah attacks since the conflict began three weeks ago. Prior to this, two Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon during ground engagements.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that four people lost their lives in two separate Israeli strikes in the south on Sunday. The ongoing violence has had a devastating humanitarian impact, with official figures indicating over 1,000 fatalities and more than a million people displaced across Lebanon since the outbreak of hostilities. The destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes has compounded the crisis, leaving many communities vulnerable.
Among the targeted infrastructure was the Qasmiyeh bridge, a vital crossing on a main highway outside Tyre, which Israeli forces bombed, partially destroying it. This bridge, along with others over the Litani River, has been repeatedly targeted by Israel in recent days to prevent Hezbollah from moving fighters and weapons southward. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the immediate destruction of all such bridges used for terrorist activities, aiming to hinder Hezbollah’s operational mobility.
In addition to infrastructure strikes, Israeli forces have intensified demolitions of houses in Lebanese border villages, a tactic intended to disrupt militant activities and reduce threats to Israeli border communities. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has continued to engage Israeli troops through rocket barrages and ground skirmishes, particularly in the border towns of Taybeh and Khiam, where clashes have been frequent. The militant group also claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli forces in northern Israel, including an assault on an air defense system in Maalot-Tarshiha that resulted in minor injuries to three civilians.
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced the killing of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, identified as the leader of the group’s elite Radwan Force special operations unit. This targeted killing represents a significant blow to Hezbollah’s command structure and underscores the intensity of the ongoing military campaign. Meanwhile, Hezbollah fighters have reportedly continued to target Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the border, maintaining pressure on Israeli forces operating inside Lebanese territory.
As the conflict persists, Israel has issued warnings to residents in large parts of southern Lebanon to evacuate, signaling intentions to establish a buffer zone to enhance security for northern Israeli communities. This move reflects the broader strategic objective of preventing further Hezbollah attacks and stabilizing the volatile border region. The situation remains highly fluid, with both sides sustaining casualties and the humanitarian toll mounting amid the escalating violence.
