Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley Spark Regional Tensions
Twelve lives were tragically lost in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley following a series of Israeli airstrikes — a grim escalation in the simmering tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. According to Bachir Khodr, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel, seven of the victims were Syrians, including an entire family of five, while three Lebanese citizens also perished in the attack on Wadi Faara. Two additional fatalities were later confirmed in the nearby town of Shmustar.
The Israeli military claims that the strikes targeted several military compounds linked to Hezbollah, including facilities associated with its elite Radwan Force. The Radwan Force is widely known as Hezbollah's specialized commando unit and has been a frequent focus of Israeli military operations. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the compounds housed operatives and weaponry storage sites — assets they allege pose an ongoing threat to Israeli security.
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Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, stated that the strikes were precise, aimed at disrupting Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its military capabilities — particularly in light of a renewed attempt by the Radwan Force to regain operational strength following severe losses in 2024. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz further emphasized that these attacks serve as a stark warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, declaring that Israel will not hesitate to respond with “maximum force” to any resurgence of military activity near its border.
Hezbollah has yet to officially respond, though its Al-Manar TV network condemned the strikes as violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and breaches of the 2024 ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. This agreement, rooted in UN Security Council Resolution 1701 from 2006, mandates that Hezbollah withdraw north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from Israel’s border, while Israeli forces are to fully exit Lebanese territory. Notably, Israel continues to maintain control of five strategic positions in southern Lebanon — a point of continued friction.
The resumption of such lethal airstrikes raises grave concerns about the stability of the region. Many in Lebanon, especially in Beirut’s southern suburbs, fear a return to full-scale conflict. Schools in those areas have already begun making emergency preparations. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government is under growing pressure to prevent Hezbollah’s military activities from drawing the country into another devastating war — a burden that also weighs heavily on a population already struggling with political and economic turmoil.
The tragic loss of innocent lives, particularly civilians and children, underscores the human cost of these political and military calculations. As long as both sides continue down this path, the fragile peace in Lebanon remains in jeopardy — and ordinary people bear the brunt of each strike.
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