IDF destroys 5 Litani River bridges — Lebanon's Aoun: 'dangerous escalation' and prelude to ground invasion

Israel's IDF issued a warning on Day 23 that it will strike the Qasmiya Bridge on the Litani River's coastal highway in southern Lebanon, citing Hezbollah's transfer of terror operatives and weapons under civilian cover. KEY ORDERS (Katz + Netanyahu): 1. 'Immediately destroy ALL bridges over the Litani River used for terror activity, to prevent the passage of Hezbollah terrorists and weapons southward' 2. 'Accelerate the destruction of Lebanese homes in the line of contact villages, to thwart threats to Israeli communities, in accordance with the model of Beit Hanoun and Rafah' SIGNIFICANCE: The Beit Hanoun and Rafah reference explicitly applies IDF tactics from the Gaza ground campaign to Lebanese territory — including the systematic razing of structures in the buffer zone. This marks a doctrinal escalation: Israeli leadership is now publicly ordering Gaza-model village destruction in southern Lebanon. The Qasmiya Bridge is on the coastal highway (Route 51) near Tyre — a key Hezbollah supply route from the Bekaa Valley and Beirut to southern Lebanon. Destroying all Litani bridges would sever resupply routes for Hezbollah forces south of the river.