Israel's recent airstrikes on bridges and high-rise buildings in Gaza and Lebanon serve more as symbolic gestures than decisive military actions. Despite extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, including Gaza's tall buildings and key crossings over the Litani River, Hamas and Hezbollah continue to operate effectively, illustrating the limited impact of Israel's military power. Lebanese civilians have devised makeshift crossings over the Litani, and some damaged bridges have been quickly repaired, raising questions about the strategic effectiveness of Israel's targeted strikes.
In Gaza, Israel's destruction of high-rises was ostensibly to change the skyline and demonstrate its reach, but these actions appear symbolic, given that the structures remained standing for nearly two years during ongoing conflict. Similarly, in Lebanon, Israel’s gradual targeting of bridges—claimed to be used by Hezbollah—was more about a show of force and constraining civilian movement than a swift military blow. Critics point out the historical resilience of groups like Hezbollah and the Vietnamese insurgents, who managed to evade superior airpower through ingenuity and stealth. Overall, Israel’s prolonged, slow campaign underscores the persistent limitations of military force in achieving decisive political goals in asymmetric conflicts.