Main bridge in southern Lebanon left damaged, a day after Israeli strikes

People inspected on Monday (March 23) the damage at a major bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country after Israel struck it twice on Sunday (March 22).

Sunday's strikes damaged a crossing on Lebanon's coastal highway that runs through farmland and is one of the main routes linking southern and central Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesperson had announced the army would strike the bridge earlier on Sunday.

After a first Israeli strike on Sunday afternoon, a second one hit the bridge in the evening, according to Lebanese state media.

The strikes on the Qasmiyeh bridge came after Israel ordered its military to destroy all crossings over the Litani River and to step up the demolition of homes near the southern border.

Israel said it had instructed the military to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in "frontline villages" to end threats to Israelis, and to destroy all bridges over Lebanon's Litani River which it said were used for "terrorist activity."

The destruction of bridges and homes marks a significant escalation in Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, which was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when armed group Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory.

International law generally prohibits militaries from attacking civilian infrastructure, and the United Nations human rights chief has criticized Israel's actions in Lebanon, particularly its use of widespread evacuation orders that have displaced more than a million people.

Production: Ali Hankir, Joelle Kozaily/Reuters