In 2006, Israel destroyed roads, power plants and the runways of Beirut airport. This time, the attacks are mostly concentrated in Hezbollah’s support areas.
Israel has continued its air strikes on Lebanon. Today, Friday, Israel struck, among other things, near the border of Syria and Lebanon.
The Israeli strike hit the road on the Lebanese side of the border, about 700 meters from the Lebanese border station. Now the border can only be reached on foot. A few other border crossings are still open, but Masnaa border crossing has been the main route for those fleeing Israeli bombardment and other traffic.
Over 300,000 people have fled Lebanon to Syria in the last week and a half of September. Most of them are Syrians who had previously fled the Syrian civil war to Lebanon.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 80,000 Lebanese citizens seeking refuge in Syria are also among those who have crossed the border.
According to Israel, a route for Hezbollah’s weapons
Israel has justified the attack near the border post by saying that it is trying to prevent the shipment of weapons from Syria to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Iran has supplied weapons to Hezbollah through Syria.
Both Iran and Hezbollah have also actively participated in the Syrian civil war in support Bashar al-Assad administration.
Israel has previously struck in Syria, for example, the military airport near the center of Damascus. The roads leading from Damascus to Lebanon have also been targets in the past.
For example, in August, Israel destroyed a vehicle on the road leading to Beirut and four people were killed. Around the same time, a truck convoy was also attacked in the border area.
2006 Israel destroyed Lebanon’s infrastructure
In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war, during which Israel completely destroyed Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure.
International Red Cross, ICRC report according to Israel at that time, among other things, destroyed two hundred bridges, water treatment plants and the runways of Beirut airport.
According to the ICRC, Israel also bombed roads used for aid transport. In some cases, the attacks were carried out after it had been agreed with aid organizations to keep the routes open.
On Friday, Israel also bombed targets near Beirut airport in an area that is a strong base for Hezbollah. The airport has remained open so far, but only the Lebanese state airline MEA has continued scheduled flights from the airport.
So far, there are no indications that Israel is planning bombing operations similar to those of 2006, but that may change as the war progresses.
Sources: Reuters, AP