**At least 12 fatalities were reported following Israeli strikes in the Bekaa Valley, linked to Hezbollah military operations in the vicinity. The military response underscores ongoing tensions despite previous ceasefire agreements.**
**Escalating Tensions: Israeli Strikes Claim Lives in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley**
**Escalating Tensions: Israeli Strikes Claim Lives in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley**
**The recent Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley have resulted in tragic loss of life, escalating conflicts in the region.**
At least 12 individuals have died due to Israeli air strikes in the eastern Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, according to the regional governor, Bachir Khodr. The strikes reportedly killed seven Syrians, including a family of five, as well as three Lebanese nationals in the Wadi Faara area. Additional casualties were recorded in Shmustar.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting various military installations belonging to Hezbollah, including training camps associated with its elite Radwan Force. This marks the most lethal incident since a ceasefire concluded a year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which had resulted in a significant weakening of the group.
So far, Hezbollah has not issued a statement regarding the strikes; however, its Al-Manar TV channel characterized these actions as violations of the ceasefire and an infringement of Lebanon’s sovereignty. In a briefing on social media, Lt Col Avichay Adraee from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes aimed at Hezbollah targets were designed to dismantle operational capabilities identified in the Bekaa Valley.
Hezbollah's Radwan Force is renowned as its elite commando unit. The IDF had previously claimed to have neutralized several of its commanders during a major air campaign in September 2024, which began a new phase of military engagement in southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that Hezbollah's military activities and weapon storage practices in the Bekaa violate the agreements established between Israel and Lebanon, consequently posing a future threat to the nation.
The strikes came after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that Israel would use maximum force against any attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild its armed capabilities. The ceasefire negotiated between the governments of Israel and Lebanon, with U.S. mediation in November, was predicated on the full enforcement of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which sought to end the last major conflict in 2006.
One of the key stipulations of this resolution required Hezbollah to withdraw its forces to positions north of the Litani River, maintaining a buffer zone around 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. This agreement delineated that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers would be permitted to carry arms in that vicinity.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has retained a military foothold at five locations in southern Lebanon, viewing them as strategically crucial. The international community continues to advocate for the disarmament of all armed groups within Lebanon, further complicating an already intricate regional landscape.
