Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley have resulted in the reported deaths of 12 individuals, including civilians, igniting fears of renewed conflict. The strikes targeted Hezbollah military positions, posing questions about the fragile ceasefire and raising concerns over regional stability.
Escalating Tensions: Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley Result in Civilian Casualties
Escalating Tensions: Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley Result in Civilian Casualties
A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley has left at least 12 individuals dead, raising alarms over a potential escalation in Israel-Hezbollah tensions following a ceasefire agreement.
Israeli airstrikes in the eastern Bekaa Valley of Lebanon have led to the deaths of at least 12 people, as reported by Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr. The casualties include seven Syrians, notably a family of five, and three Lebanese individuals, with additional fatalities reported in Shmustar. This military action marks the most lethal incident since a ceasefire concluded a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which included two months of intense warfare that considerably weakened the militia.
The Israeli military has stated that its strikes targeted various military installations associated with the armed group Hezbollah, incorporating training facilities related to its elite Radwan Force. While Hezbollah has yet to formally respond, its media outlet, Al-Manar TV, indicated that the strikes infringe on both the ceasefire agreement and Lebanon's sovereignty.
Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Arabic spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), claimed through social platforms that the strikes were aimed at compounds utilized by Hezbollah operatives, specifically warehouses crucial for storing combat resources. The statement emphasized that the Radwan Force, which has reportedly aimed to restore its operational capabilities post-2024 (when Israel claimed to have eliminated its leadership), presents a continued challenge to Israeli security.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the airstrikes, stating they deliver a clear warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. Katz reaffirmed Israel's readiness to deploy maximum force against any efforts aimed at Hezbollah's military resurgence.
The ceasefire arrangement, brokered by US mediators in November, followed the guidelines of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which concluded the last major conflict in 2006. This agreement mandated Hezbollah's withdrawal to positions north of the Litani River, situated about 30 kilometers from the Israeli frontier, and stipulated that only Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers be authorized to carry weaponry in that region. Despite the accord, Israel maintains a military presence at five strategically valuable sites in southern Lebanon, raising questions about adherence to the agreement and the ongoing disarmament of armed factions in the area.
