At least 12 people were killed on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Among the dead were seven Syrian nationals, with eight others reportedly injured.
The strikes, which hit the Wadi Fara area, included a raid on a camp housing displaced Syrians.
Israel’s military confirmed the operation, stating that it targeted sites used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, alleging the facilities were involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.
“Numerous strikes” were carried out on what Israel described as “terror targets,” including training grounds and weapons storage sites.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hezbollah of attempting to reconstitute its capabilities, months after key Radwan commanders were “eliminated” in earlier operations.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attacks sent “a clear message” to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, which he held accountable for violating the ceasefire terms agreed upon in November.
“We will strike every terrorist and thwart any threat to the residents of the north and to the State of Israel,” Katz said, vowing to respond with “maximum force” to any rebuilding efforts by Hezbollah.
The latest escalation comes despite the ongoing ceasefire deal brokered in November, which mandated that Hezbollah pull its fighters north of the Litani River, while Israel was expected to withdraw troops from Lebanese territory.
However, both sides have accused each other of violations, and Israel maintains a military presence in five strategic locations in Lebanon.
Tuesday’s strikes mark a significant breach of the fragile truce and raise concerns of renewed conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border, already strained by over a year of sporadic clashes and a two-month war that severely weakened Hezbollah’s military strength.
Written By Rodney Mbua
