Israeli jets destroy Qasimiya Bridge in southern Lebanon

2026-03-23 - 12:50

Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on the Qasimiya Bridge spanning the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Monday, the second such attack on the strategic crossing within 24 hours, according to Lebanese state media. The state-run National News Agency reported that the strike completely destroyed the bridge, cutting off the primary roadway connecting the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon—two of southern Lebanon's largest urban centers. Infrastructure crippled Journalists who happened to be in the vicinity at the time of the attack witnessed the strike, the agency added. No casualties were reported from Monday's bombardment. A similar attack had targeted the same bridge on Sunday, indicating a pattern of repeated strikes on critical infrastructure along Lebanon's southern corridor. The Qasimiya Bridge serves as a vital artery for civilian movement and commerce between the southern port cities. Regional context and Türkiye’s concern The strikes come amid sustained Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, which have intensified since the broader regional escalation began Feb. 28 with the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. The Litani River region has seen repeated Israeli airstrikes targeting infrastructure and what Israel describes as Hezbollah-linked assets. The destruction of the Qasimiya Bridge further strains Lebanon's already fragile infrastructure and complicates movement for civilians in a country already grappling with economic collapse and mass displacement. Türkiye, which maintains close ties with Lebanon and has historically provided humanitarian support, continues to monitor the situation closely, calling for restraint and adherence to international law amid fears that the conflict could expand further along its southern borders.