Escalation of Tensions: Israeli Strikes Claim 12 Lives in Bekaa Valley

Following recent air strikes in the Bekaa Valley, at least 12 people have been reported killed, raising concerns over the fragile ceasefire established between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes targeted Hezbollah military compounds, with Israel emphasizing its commitment to prevent the group's military resurgence.

At least 12 individuals lost their lives in recent Israeli air strikes on the eastern Bekaa Valley, as confirmed by regional governor Bachir Khodr. Among the deceased are seven Syrians, including a family of five, and three Lebanese nationals; additional fatalities were recorded in the Shmustar region. The Israeli military stated that the strikes were aimed at multiple Hezbollah military installations, including training camps linked to its elite Radwan Force.

These air strikes mark the most lethal incidents since a ceasefire was brokered to conclude a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including an extensive two-month conflict that significantly impacted the armed group's capabilities. Hezbollah has yet to issue an official response to the Israeli actions, although its media outlet, Al-Manar, expressed that these strikes breached both the ceasefire agreement and Lebanon's sovereignty.

In statements made via social media, IDF spokesperson Lt Col Avichay Adraee detailed that the air strikes successfully targeted military compounds of the Radwan Force and highlighted the presence of "terrorist operatives and equipment warehouses" within Hezbollah's ranks. Following the intense Israeli bombardment observed in September 2024, which resulted in the deaths of key Radwan Force commanders, the militia has reportedly been striving to rebuild its operational strengths.

The Israeli government underscored that its military actions were a preemptive response to perceived violations and threats posed by Hezbollah within the Bekaa Valley. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz remarked that these strikes delivered a decisive warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese authorities, indicating Israel’s readiness to use robust military responses against any attempts to reinstate Hezbollah's military functions.

The ceasefire that concluded the previous conflict in 2006 is rooted in the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which mandated Hezbollah to reposition its forces north of the Litani River, while only permitting the Lebanese armed forces and UN peacekeepers to possess arms in that area. Meanwhile, Israel has maintained military placements at five strategic locations in southern Lebanon, which it views as essential security interests, despite the requirements of the ceasefire agreement that called for a full withdrawal of its forces.