Israeli warplanes carried out a series of heavy airstrikes along the al-Musayrif road in southern Lebanon on the night of October 11, cutting major power lines and cutting off major routes, plunging much of the south into darkness.
At least 10 airstrikes hit six drilling and bulldozer warehouses, destroying more than 300 construction vehicles and heavy equipment, killing one person and injuring seven others.
Lebanon’s main electricity supplier, Electricity du Liban (EDL), said the strike had caused severe damage to the country’s power grid. A 66 kV tower was completely destroyed, the Zahrani-Musairi line was severed, and power supply to the main 66 kV substations in Sidon and Shibring was interrupted.
The unprovoked attack also severed the Zahrani-Tir power line, mainly 220 kV, and forced the outage of several substations in southern Lebanon, including Tir and Wadi Jirou.
Parliament Speaker Navi Berri condemned Israel’s attack, calling it a “blatant act of aggression, both in form and substance.”
“Israel’s invasion, in its timing, location, and purpose, does not change our beliefs or the steadfastness of our people, who are once again paying with their lives, homes, and livelihoods to preserve their rightful right to their land and a dignified life,” Berri said.
He added that the attack reflected “the inherently aggressive nature of the Israeli institution.”
“As always, this is not just an attack on Musaileh, its population or industrial facilities, but on Lebanon and its entire people. It targets Christians and Muslims alike, and it is blood-on-blood. Let us stand against this invasion and unite from there for Lebanon.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also condemned the nighttime airstrikes, calling them “blatant Israeli aggression against civilian facilities.”
He stressed that the attack took place “after the agreement to cease hostilities in Gaza and after the Palestinian side approved the terms of this agreement,” adding that the attack “raises fundamental challenges for us as Lebanese and for the international community.”
Lebanese news outlets reported that an airstrike hit a heavy equipment yard and hit a passing vehicle carrying vegetables, killing one Syrian national and injuring six Lebanese and one Syrian.
The Israeli military later claimed to have targeted the site, which was said to be used as a storage area for machinery for Hezbollah’s reconstruction efforts.