Beirut: Aerial images revealed the extent of damage caused by an Israeli airstrike on the culvert above the Qasmiyeh-Ras al-Ain irrigation canal in the Mansouri area, showing extensive destruction to the structure and associated water infrastructure. The damage has raised concerns over potential repercussions for the irrigation network and farmers who depend on it along Lebanon's southern coastal areas.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Israeli warplanes struck the Mansouri bridge and the water facility above the Qasmiyeh-Ras al-Ain irrigation canal on August 9. A precise field inspection could not be carried out in the immediate aftermath because of the risks involved in approaching the targeted site. Subsequent aerial footage showed the extent of the damage to the culvert and its surroundings, indicating that the strike affected not only a local crossing but also part of the infrastructure of a water project that plays a key role in the agricultural production cycle across several areas of southern Lebanon.
A number of nearby homes were also damaged. The Qasmiyeh-Ras al-Ain Irrigation Project is one of the major irrigation projects operated by the Litani River Authority and relies on water from the lower Litani River basin.