Katz says Israel struck two Litani bridges in 'message' to Lebanese state

Israel's defense minister said the Israeli military had destroyed two bridges spanning the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, alleging they were being used by Hezbollah.

"The IDF (Israeli army) today struck and destroyed two additional bridges over the Litani River that were used for smuggling weapons and for Hezbollah operatives moving south," Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

"This is a direct action against Hezbollah's use of Lebanon's state infrastructure to advance terrorist activity and also a clear message to the Lebanese government: the State of Israel will not allow such a reality."

Earlier on Wednesday, the military had warned residents in the vicinity to evacuate, saying it planned to strike the crossings.

"To prevent the transfer of reinforcements and weapons, the IDF intends to attack crossings on the Litani River starting from this afternoon," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee said on X.

"For your safety, you must continue moving to the area north of the Zahrani River and refrain from any movement southward, which may endanger your lives."