Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel could destroy Lebanese national infrastructure allegedly used by Hezbollah if the group is not disarmed, The Times of Israel reported on March 13. The statement followed Israeli strikes earlier the same day on a key bridge in southern Lebanon that Israeli officials said Hezbollah was using to move operatives and equipment.

Hezbollah officially entered the U.S. and Israel-Iran war in support of Iran on March 1, when the group launched numerous rockets and drones toward northern Israel. Since then, fighting has escalated toward high-intensity exchanges, with Israel preparing for an expanded ground operation in southern Lebanon to carve out a buffer zone.