Aoun warns of imminent ground invasion after Israel destroys Qasmiyeh Bridge in southern Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the Israeli airstrikes that targeted the vital Qasmiyeh Bridge located on the Litani River in the south of the country, describing this escalation as a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Aoun affirmed in an official statement that the destruction of essential infrastructure represents a clear prelude to a potential ground invasion, noting that the Lebanese state had repeatedly warned through international diplomatic channels of the danger of being drawn into this level of military confrontation.

The Lebanese President explained that targeting bridges falls within suspicious plans aimed at geographically isolating the area south of the Litani from the rest of Lebanese territory. He considered that these moves seek to establish a reality of occupation and create a buffer zone, describing the attacks as a policy of collective punishment practiced against Lebanese civilians to undermine their ability to move and live in their border areas.

On the ground, press sources reported that the occupation's air force carried out two consecutive raids with a short time difference targeting the bridge located on the coastal highway, which led to severe damage and large openings in its structure. Although the bridge did not completely collapse, the extent of the destruction rendered it completely out of service, causing the interruption of a major transportation artery connecting the southern cities with the capital Beirut and the rest of the governorates.

In contrast, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz revealed that direct instructions had been issued by him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the army to begin a comprehensive destruction operation of all bridges built on the Litani River. Katz claimed that this step aims to remove threats facing the northern areas in Israel, stressing that operations will expand to include accelerating the pace of demolition of homes in Lebanese villages located within what he described as 'front lines'.

These developments come amid an unprecedented military escalation, as the occupation army began targeting crossings and bridges days ago in a move observers see as an attempt to impose a military blockade on operational areas. Field footage documents the extent of the devastation that has afflicted the area around the Litani River, amid international fears of these airstrikes turning into a large-scale ground incursion that changes the field map in southern Lebanon.

Targeting infrastructure is a prelude to a ground invasion that Lebanon has long warned against being drawn into through diplomatic channels.