Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Beirut after destroying key bridge in eastern Lebanon
Beirut — Israel said on Saturday it had launched strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut after destroying a bridge in eastern Lebanon to disrupt the movement of fighters and equipment, as hostilities intensified in the country.
The Israeli military said it targeted positions in the Lebanese capital following overnight operations that included the destruction of a bridge linking Sohmor and Mashghara over the Litani River, a route it said was used to transfer reinforcements.
An AFP journalist reported hearing two explosions in Beirut early Saturday, with smoke seen rising from one of the strike locations. Local media said Israeli warplanes hit areas in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been repeatedly targeted in recent days.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency confirmed the bridge strike, while local reports indicated a second crossing was also hit. Israeli forces have previously targeted multiple bridges along the Litani River, an area roughly 30 km north of the Israeli border where Israel has signaled it seeks to maintain security control.
The escalation follows Hezbollah’s entry into the broader regional conflict on March 2, when the group launched rockets at Israel after a U.S.-Israeli strike killed Iran’s supreme leader.Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in Sohmor after an Israeli strike hit as worshippers were leaving a mosque following Friday prayers.
Separately, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported that three peacekeepers were wounded in an explosion at one of its positions in southern Lebanon, the third such incident in recent days. The origin of the blast remains unclear, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of launching a rocket that struck the site.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,300 people have been killed since the latest round of hostilities began. Israel’s military says it has struck over 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the past month, while Hezbollah reports carrying out more than 1,300 operations against Israeli positions.
Residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs continued daily life amid the strikes, with religious observances taking place despite the ongoing bombardment.
The conflict has also taken a toll on UN peacekeeping forces, with multiple fatalities reported in recent days. The United Nations says 97 personnel have been killed in violence since the mission was established in 1978.
