In a dramatic escalation of violence in Lebanon, Israeli air strikes in the eastern Bekaa Valley have claimed the lives of at least 12 people, according to Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr. The assaults specifically targeted the Wadi Faara area, reportedly resulting in the deaths of seven Syrians, including a family of five, and three Lebanese individuals. Additional casualties were noted in Shmustar.
The Israeli military has confirmed its operations, asserting that the strikes focused on several military compounds connected to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. Among the targeted sites were training camps associated with Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, a unit specializing in commando operations. This incident marks the deadliest violence since the formal ceasefire concluded last year, which had halted months of intense hostilities between the two factions.
Hezbollah has yet to publicly respond to the attacks; however, its channel, Al-Manar TV, described the bombardments as violations of both the ceasefire agreement and the sovereignty of Lebanon. A representative of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lt Col Avichay Adraee, stated that the operations targeted "terrorist operatives and warehouses" associated with Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
The IDF expressed that Hezbollah's military activities in the Bekaa Valley pose a significant threat to Israel and violate previous ceasefire agreements. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz articulated that the strikes serve as a warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, underscoring Israel's readiness to counter any attempts to bolster Hezbollah's military strength.
The ceasefire arrangement brokered by the United States last November requires Hezbollah to withdraw its forces to positions north of the Litani River, approximately 30 km from Israeli borders, allowing only the Lebanese armed forces and UN peacekeepers to operate with arms in that area. Conversely, Israel's persistence in maintaining a military foothold at five key sites in southern Lebanon complicates the situation, as it was originally mandated to withdraw completely as part of the ceasefire.
This recent confrontation highlights the fragile state of peace in the region, with fears that violence might escalate again, prompting school closures and heightened tensions among communities in and around Beirut.
