Israel Destroys Litani River Bridges and Targets Infrastructure in Lebanon

Key facts

• Israeli air strikes destroyed two bridges over the Litani River in southern Lebanon to obstruct the Hezbollah armed group from transporting weapons and fighters.
• The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the strikes were a direct action against the use of Lebanese state infrastructure for militant activities.
• United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict, mandates that armed groups are barred from operating south of the Litani River.
• The Zrarieh Bridge was specifically identified as one of the river crossings damaged during the aerial bombardment.
• Israeli forces targeted the Al Qard Al Hassan organisation, alleging it serves as a financial wing for Hezbollah military operations.
• Recent strikes in central Beirut resulted in 12 fatalities and 27 injuries, with total casualties in Lebanon reaching 968 since 2 March.
• The military escalation has led to the displacement of over one million people from southern Lebanon, eastern regions, and the Dahieh suburb of Beirut.