Daijiworld Media Network – Beirut

Beirut, Mar 14: Israel destroyed a bridge in southern Lebanon on Friday and dropped leaflets over Beirut warning of Gaza-like devastation, as tensions escalated in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.

According to the Israeli military, warplanes struck the Zrarieh Bridge spanning the Litani River early Friday, claiming it was being used by Hezbollah fighters to move between northern and southern Lebanon. The military did not provide evidence for the claim. The strike appeared to mark the first time Israel has acknowledged targeting civilian infrastructure during the current military campaign.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the Lebanese government would face increasing costs through damage to infrastructure and potential territorial losses until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes continued air strikes on suburbs of Beirut, as Lebanon’s interior minister said authorities were struggling to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people who had fled to the capital seeking safety.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem dismissed Israeli threats to assassinate him, declaring that the group was prepared for a prolonged confrontation.

“We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation and they will be surprised in the field,” Qassem said in a televised speech.

Lebanon’s state news agency, citing the health ministry, reported that Israeli strikes have killed at least 773 people in the country since March 2.

Israel launched its offensive against Hezbollah after the group opened fire earlier this month in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the start of the United States–Israel war with Iran.

During a visit to Lebanon on Friday, Antonio Guterres said he was seeking $308 million in emergency funding to help the country deal with the humanitarian crisis, with around 800,000 people displaced by the conflict.

“Solidarity in words must be matched by solidarity in action,” Guterres said.

Israeli aircraft also dropped leaflets over Beirut warning of devastation similar to that inflicted on Gaza during Israel’s prolonged war with Hamas. The flyers urged Lebanese citizens to pressure Hezbollah to disarm and included QR codes linking to messaging platforms.

Lebanon’s state media reported that a drone strike hit a residential apartment in the Bourj Hammoud area on the northern outskirts of the capital, marking the first time Israel had targeted the predominantly Christian northern suburbs during the current war.

Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar said shelters opened across Beirut were insufficient to house the growing number of displaced residents, many of whom have been forced to sleep on streets and in public parks.

Israel has also reinforced its military presence along the northern border. The Israeli military said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had ordered additional troop deployments after redeploying an infantry brigade from near Gaza earlier this week.

On Wednesday night, Hezbollah fired around 200 rockets toward communities in northern Israel, further intensifying the cross-border conflict.