The air strikes targeted Hezbollah military compounds, escalating tensions in the region after a year of fragile peace following the 2006 conflict.
Israeli Air Strikes Claims 12 Lives in Bekaa Valley of Lebanon
Israeli Air Strikes Claims 12 Lives in Bekaa Valley of Lebanon
A recent Israeli military operation in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals, including civilians and members of Hezbollah.
At least 12 individuals have lost their lives due to Israeli air strikes in the eastern Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, as reported by regional governor Bachir Khodr. The casualties include seven Syrians, among them a family of five, alongside three Lebanese citizens killed in the Wadi Faara region. Additional fatalities were reported in Shmustar, raising concerns about a return to conflict.
The Israeli military stated the operations focused on numerous military installations linked to the armed group Hezbollah. These included training camps connected to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, regarded as its elite commando unit. These strikes, described as the deadliest since a ceasefire concluded a year-long conflict with Hezbollah, were noted particularly for their potential to destabilize the already precarious peace established after extensive fighting.
While Hezbollah has yet to formally respond, its affiliated Al-Manar TV channel characterized the strikes as a breach of both the ceasefire and Lebanon's sovereignty—points that underline the severity of the escalation. In a public statement, Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson, confirmed the strikes targeted various facilities used by the Radwan Force, including those purportedly storing combat equipment.
Additionally, the IDF highlighted that the ongoing military presence and activities of Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley punctuate a significant breach of the existing peace agreements between Israel and Lebanon, raising serious security concerns.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the intent behind these military actions was to convey a stringent warning to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, reaffirming Israel's capability and readiness to counter any perceived threats posed by Hezbollah's military ambitions.
The ceasefire, established with the assistance of U.S. mediators in November, hinged on the adherence to UN Security Council resolution 1701, which concluded the previous war in 2006. Hezbollah was mandated to reposition its forces north of the Litani River, allowing only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to operate in that zone. Conversely, Israel continues to maintain military assets in southern Lebanon, complicating the situation further.
As tensions escalate, both local authorities and observers are bracing for the possible ramifications of these latest strikes on the fragile peace in the region.
