Arabic version: إسرائيل تدمر جسرًا لبنانيًا، وتهدد بمزيد من الدمار

Israel has destroyed the Zrarieh Bridge in southern Lebanon and dropped leaflets over Beirut warning the country faces the same scale of destruction visited upon Gaza, as its military campaign against Hezbollah enters a devastating new phase. The Israeli military claimed Hezbollah fighters were using the bridge to move between the country’s north and south, though it offered no evidence to support this.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made clear more such strikes would follow, saying the Lebanese government would face “increasing costs through damage to infrastructure and loss of territory” for as long as Hezbollah remained armed. The military’s campaign has already resulted in significant casualties, with at least 773 people killed and 1,933 injured, including 103 children, as reported by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

In addition to the bridge destruction, Israeli attacks have hit areas of Beirut not previously targeted in this conflict, causing civilian casualties, including children. Leaflets dropped over Beirut warned residents of potential devastation similar to that experienced in Gaza, highlighting the significant destruction already inflicted there.

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is dire, with more than 800,000 people displaced. The Norwegian Refugee Council has stated that the country is “approaching a breaking point,” as shelters cannot accommodate the influx of displaced individuals. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for $308m in emergency humanitarian funding to address the escalating crisis.