Israel Destroys Qasmiyeh Bridge Over Litani River Amid Expanded Campaign Against Hezbollah

On 22/03/2026, Israeli warplanes struck and destroyed the Qasmiyeh Bridge over the Litani River on Lebanon’s southern coastal highway near Tyre, as part of an expanded Israeli military campaign aimed at severing Hezbollah supply routes into southern Lebanon. The bridge is one of the main crossings linking areas south of the Litani River with the rest of the country, and its destruction followed statements from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordering the military to destroy crossings over the river to block the movement of reinforcements and weapons. Lebanese state media and multiple international reports described the strike as targeting a key logistical corridor used for civilian and military transit between Sidon, Tyre, and districts further south. The attack occurred alongside a broader escalation of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces intensified airstrikes and demolition activities in villages near the frontier, with Israeli officials describing the measures as preparation for advancing ground operations and creating a buffer zone north of the Israeli border. Israeli military leadership indicated that operations against Hezbollah would be prolonged, while additional strikes reportedly targeted Hezbollah positions and infrastructure across southern Lebanon on the same day. Lebanese political leaders responded with diplomatic accusations and warnings of escalation. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated in media interviews on 22/03/2026 that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was directly managing Hezbollah’s military operations, alleging the presence of Iranian personnel operating with forged passports and coordinating battlefield actions. Salam reiterated the Lebanese government’s position that the conflict had been imposed on Lebanon and called for Hezbollah to disarm and transfer weapons to the state. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the destruction of infrastructure across the Litani River, calling the bridge strikes a dangerous escalation and warning they could serve as a prelude to wider ground operations. Officials also expressed concern that cutting the crossings could isolate communities south of the river and disrupt civilian movement and humanitarian access during ongoing hostilities.