Syria state TV says Israel struck Syria bridges near Lebanon border, injuring two

Syrian state television reported Israeli strikes on several bridges in the Qusayr region near the Lebanese border on Monday, with the defense ministry reporting two civilians injured in the attacks.

The Israeli military has intensified its strikes on targets in Syria since its conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon escalated into full-scale war in late September after almost a year of cross-border hostilities.

“An Israeli aggression targeted the bridges of al-Jubaniyeh, al-Daf, Arjoun, and the al-Nizariyeh Gate in the Qusayr area,” state television said, with official news agency SANA reporting damage following the attacks.

The defense ministry said “the Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of Lebanese territory, targeting crossing points that it had previously hit” between the two countries.

The attacks “injured two civilians and caused material losses”, it added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the “Israeli strikes targeted” an official land border crossing in the Qusayr area and six bridges on the Orontes River, near the Lebanese border.

Since September, Israel has bombed land crossings between Lebanon and Syria, placing them out of service. It accuses Hezbollah of using what are key routes for people fleeing the war in Lebanon to transfer weapons from Syria.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.