On Friday evening, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes targeting infrastructure in the Western Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon. The bombardment hit two vital bridges over the Litani River, connecting the towns of Sahmar and Mashghara, completely destroying them and cutting off traffic between the two banks of the river.
Local sources reported that the Israeli targeting focused on the main bridge connecting the two towns and the adjacent bridge, in a move aimed at isolating geographical areas from each other. These raids come after threats issued by the occupation army, claiming to prevent the transfer of combat equipment and military reinforcements.
These bridges are considered strategic crossings for residents in the Bekaa region, forming an essential part of the internal road network that villages rely on for their daily commutes and to secure their needs. Their destruction represents a severe blow to civilian and economic activity in those rugged mountainous areas.
This attack brings to mind the destruction of the Dalafa Bridge by the occupation army last March, which was one of the main crossings over the Litani in southern Lebanon. Israel follows a systematic policy of targeting the seven bridges connecting the two banks of the river, most notably the Qasmiyeh, Khardali, and Qa'qa'iya bridges.
In a related context, official data issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Health indicates that the widespread aggression ongoing since early March has resulted in the martyrdom of 1368 people. Medical teams also recorded injuries to more than 4138 people with varying degrees of wounds due to the intensive raids targeting cities and villages.
On the other hand, sources reported that intensive missile attacks and drones launched from Lebanese territory caused widespread destruction in northern Israel. Several shells and missiles fell in the Western Galilee region and the coastal city of Nahariya, causing significant material damage to residential buildings.
Hebrew reports confirmed that a kamikaze drone successfully penetrated air defenses and exploded inside a house in the border town of Metula. The explosion caused extensive damage to the structure of the house and surrounding properties, amid a state of security alert and continuous siren sounds.
Attacks did not stop at the Lebanese border, as monitoring systems detected the launch of three missile salvos from the Iranian side towards targets in northern Israel. These barrages directly targeted the city of Haifa and the Galilee region, prompting thousands of settlers to urgently seek refuge in fortified shelters.
Hebrew media reported that fragments of interceptor missiles and the fall of some shells in the vicinity of Haifa caused injuries among civilians as they rushed to shelters. Material damage was also recorded in several locations due to falling shrapnel and fires that broke out in some open areas.
For its part, the Israeli army claimed that the 'Iron Dome' and 'David's Sling' air defense systems managed to intercept a number of missiles targeting Haifa. The military statement indicated that some missiles fell in uninhabited areas, confirming that this was the seventh barrage recorded since Friday morning.
Despite interception claims, photos and videos circulated on social media platforms showed columns of smoke rising from different locations in the north. These simultaneous attacks caused a near-complete paralysis of public life in the northern cities, with continued warnings of additional drone infiltrations.
Meanwhile, Israeli ambulance crews declared a state of maximum alert to deal with the repercussions of the continuous shelling from multiple fronts. 'Magen David Adom' clarified that it provided treatment to a number of people who suffered from panic attacks or minor bruises during attempts to take cover from the missiles.
Observers believe that targeting bridges in Lebanon represents a new phase of escalation aimed at imposing a land blockade and facilitating infiltration operations or military pressure. In contrast, the missile barrages from Lebanon and Iran reflect an ability to bypass defense systems and strike deep into Israeli strategic depth.
Military operations continue under complex regional conditions, where fronts overlap and the pace of assassinations and mutual targeting escalates. Civilians in Lebanon and in the northern border areas remain the most affected by this escalation, which threatens a comprehensive and long-term confrontation.
Targeting bridges aims to cut off Lebanese areas and prevent the transfer of supplies, which is part of a broader aggression affecting civilian infrastructure.
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Widespread Escalation: Occupation Destroys Vital Bridges in Bekaa, While Lebanese and Iranian Missiles Strike Northern Israel