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Arab World

Israel Intensifies Use of Suicide Drones in Gaza

Palestinians inspect damage from an Israeli attack on a displacement shelter school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza (AFP)
Palestinians inspect damage from an Israeli attack on a displacement shelter school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza (AFP)
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Israel Intensifies Use of Suicide Drones in Gaza

Palestinians inspect damage from an Israeli attack on a displacement shelter school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza (AFP)
Palestinians inspect damage from an Israeli attack on a displacement shelter school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza (AFP)

Israel has ramped up its use of small suicide drones in Gaza in recent days, increasingly deploying quadcopter-style devices in targeted strikes, particularly against individuals, according to field sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat.
At least nine drones exploded in various areas across the Gaza Strip over a four-day period, with most of the strikes hitting targets inside displacement shelters, the sources said.
While Israel had used such drones sparingly since the war began, their deployment has expanded significantly in recent days, marking the first time they have been used in a concentrated manner to strike senior Palestinian resistance figures, prominent militants, and some employees working in the Hamas-run government.
The quadcopters are small, remotely detonated drones equipped with explosive charges. Designed for precision, they can ignite fires upon detonation, which often leads to a higher casualty toll—particularly in crowded shelters where fires can spread rapidly.
The sources reported an uptick in drone activity in the skies over several areas of the enclave, suggesting Israel may further escalate their use in the coming days as part of a strategy to eliminate targeted individuals.
Meanwhile, the United States said unexploded ordnance now litters much of the Gaza Strip following tens of thousands of Israeli airstrikes, rendering the territory “uninhabitable,” according to Reuters.

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Arab World

Israel Strikes Main Bridge in South Lebanon, Orders Destruction of Homes Near Border

This photograph shows the destroyed Qasmiye Bridge built over the Litani River, following an Israeli airstrike, in Qasmiye on March 18, 2026. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP)
This photograph shows the destroyed Qasmiye Bridge built over the Litani River, following an Israeli airstrike, in Qasmiye on March 18, 2026. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP)
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Israel Strikes Main Bridge in South Lebanon, Orders Destruction of Homes Near Border

This photograph shows the destroyed Qasmiye Bridge built over the Litani River, following an Israeli airstrike, in Qasmiye on March 18, 2026. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP)
This photograph shows the destroyed Qasmiye Bridge built over the Litani River, following an Israeli airstrike, in Qasmiye on March 18, 2026. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP)

Israel struck a main bridge linking Lebanon's south to the rest of the country on Sunday after ordering its military to destroy all crossings over Lebanon's Litani River and to step up the demolition of homes near the southern border.

The destruction of bridges and homes marks a significant escalation in Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, which was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when armed group Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory.

International law generally prohibits militaries from attacking civilian infrastructure, and the United Nations human rights chief has criticised Israel's actions in Lebanon, particularly its use of widespread evacuation orders.

Sunday's strike pulverized a crossing on Lebanon's coastal highway that ran through farmland and was one of the main routes linking southern and central Lebanon, according to Reuters.

An Israeli military spokesperson had announced the army would strike the bridge earlier on Sunday.

Lama al-Fares, who lives on farmland adjacent to the crossing, said her family packed whatever they could into their car when they saw the warning. They drove about a kilometer north on the highway and waited out the strike on a hilltop overlooking the highway.

"Our house is right next to the bridge. It was destroyed in the last war and we had rebuilt a basic structure to live in - I hope it's still standing," she told Reuters.

Israel's strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people, including nearly 120 children, 80 women and 40 medical personnel, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

The Israeli military had already destroyed three bridges in southern Lebanon in the last 10 days.

'HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE'

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters that international law requires armed actors to take into account the civilian harm caused by strikes on infrastructure like bridges, even if the targets were being used for military purposes.

"If all these bridges are struck, and the region that is south of the Litani becomes isolated from the rest of the country, then the civilian harm is going to be so immense that you have a humanitarian catastrophe as people still living in the south won't be able to access food, medicine and other basic needs," Kaiss said.

Destroying homes in southern Lebanon wholesale would amount to wanton destruction, which is a war crime, he added.

The Israeli military says its troops are carrying out what it describes as ground maneuvers and targeted raids on Hezbollah militants and weapons stores in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say the air and ground campaigns are aimed at protecting residents in northern Israel near the Lebanese border from Hezbollah attacks.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, in Jerusalem on Friday, telling reporters that he had expressed France's reservations about a ground operation of "significant scale and duration".

Barrot said he had urged Lebanese and Israeli officials to find a lasting solution, which he said could not be achieved through military force alone.

Earlier this month, Katz warned the Lebanese government it would face infrastructure damage and territorial losses unless Hezbollah was disarmed. The Lebanese government has outlawed Hezbollah military activity and said it wanted to engage in direct talks with Israel.

Arab World

Katz: Orders for Israel Army to Destroy More Bridges in South Lebanon

Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
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Katz: Orders for Israel Army to Destroy More Bridges in South Lebanon

Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani river being used by Hezbollah in south Lebanon and to step up the demolition of houses.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I instructed the 'army' to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south," Katz said in a statement.

He said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

Arab World

Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
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Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israeli settlers rampaged through multiple Palestinian villages overnight Saturday and into Sunday, smashing cars, setting fires and wounding several men in the latest flare-up of violence in the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported attacks in at least six communities on Sunday. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said at least three Palestinians in the village of Jalud suffered head wounds from beatings and were hospitalized after confronting settlers, who were also reported injured.

The violence came as Israel’s government presses ahead with new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Attacks by settlers have intensified alongside a broader surge in violence since the Iran war started, said The Associated Press.

Israel’s military said it responded to Israeli civilians carrying out “arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area,” but did not report any arrests or indicate whether investigations were opened.

WAFA reported attacks in the villages of Silat al Dahr and Fandaqumiya, both near Jenin; in Jalud and Salfit, both south of Nablus; and in the agricultural regions Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley. Homes and cars were set ablaze, Palestinians were pepper-sprayed and at least five people were wounded in the overnight assaults, which took place during the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the agency said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year as of March 15. The Palestinian Authority has also documented a series of arson attacks, including on mosques, across the territory.