Israel Strikes Bekaa Valley: 12 Killed, Lebanon Governor Reports
Deadly Israeli Strikes Target Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley
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BEIRUT, Lebanon – Ten people, including seven Syrians and three Lebanese, were killed in Israeli airstrikes that targeted Hezbollah military compounds in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to a regional governor. The strikes, which hit the Wadi Faara and Shmustar areas, represent the deadliest attacks since a ceasefire ended a year of intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Escalation in the Bekaa Valley
The Baalbek-Hermel Governor, Bachir Khodr, reported the casualties on X, formerly Twitter.He stated that seven Syrians, comprising a family of five and two other individuals, along with three Lebanese nationals, lost thier lives in the Wadi Faara area.The remaining two fatalities were reported in Shmustar.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, asserting that they targeted multiple military compounds belonging to Hezbollah, including training camps associated with its elite Radwan force. This action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, occurring after a period of relative calm following a ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah’s Elite Unit in Focus
the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Lt Col Avichay Adraee, detailed the targets on X, stating that the strikes hit ”military compounds belonging to the Radwan Force, where terrorist operatives and warehouses used to store combat equipment employed by Hezbollah have been identified.” The Radwan Force is widely recognized as Hezbollah’s premier commando unit, responsible for specialized operations.In a seperate English statement,the IDF claimed to have eliminated commanders of the Radwan Force in September 2024 during an extensive air campaign and subsequent invasion of southern Lebanon. The statement further indicated that the unit has been actively working to “re-establish its capabilities” since those operations.
The IDF emphasized that Hezbollah’s alleged storage of weapons and military activities within the Bekaa Valley constitute a “blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and constitute a future threat to the state of Israel.”
Message to Hezbollah and Lebanese Government
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, stating that the strikes sent “a clear message” to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. He underscored israel’s readiness to “respond with maximum force against any attempt at rebuilding” Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and capabilities.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The current exchange of fire strains the ceasefire agreement brokered by US mediators in November.This agreement was based on the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which concluded the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Under resolution 1701, Hezbollah was mandated to withdraw its forces to positions north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. This area was intended to be exclusively patrolled by the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers. In return, israel was expected to fully withdraw its forces from Lebanon. However,Israel has maintained a military presence at five strategically vital sites in southern Lebanon.
The resolution also reiterated previous UN Security Council calls for the “disarmament of all armed groups” operating within Lebanon, a provision that remains a point of contention and a significant factor in the ongoing regional instability. Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the latest strikes, though its Al-Manar TV channel has described them as violations of both the ceasefire and Lebanese sovereignty.