During his speech at the establishment of a new illegal settlement, Mevo Hor, in the occupied West Bank on 9 April, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich promised new Israeli border expansion in the north, south, east, and west.
“There will be expansion in Gaza that will extend our borders. In Lebanon, to the Litani. In Syria, Mount Hermon. Parts of the north, south, and east”, said the Israeli Minister during the speech. The Litani refers to the Litani river in South Lebanon.
Israeli strikes are currently making bridge crossings over the Litani River unusable. On 22 March, the Qasmiyeh bridge was destroyed, which had been used both by Lebanese fleeing Israeli bombardment to head north, and in the opposite direction, to bring supplies to towns and villages in the region. threaten to sever tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon from access to humanitarian aid, food, and health care. Since March 13, the Israeli military has destroyed five bridges over the Litani and demolished homes in border villages to create a “buffer zone”. Such a buffer zone would require long-term occupation, and raises concerns that displaced residents may never be able to return.
This comes as Israel kills hundreds across Lebanon. On 8 April, a coordinated attack by Israel struck over 100 bombs over Lebanon in under 10 minutes, hitting densely populated residential and commercial areas. Lebanon’s Civil Defence reports at least 254 people were killed and 1,165 others were wounded in the attacks on Wednesday.
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Israeli attacks on Lebanon kill at least 254 and over 1,165 injured in one day
