Escalation in the Bekaa Valley: Israeli Strikes Claim Lives

Israeli air strikes in the Bekaa Valley have resulted in the death of at least 12 individuals, sparking fears of renewed violence in the region.

At least 12 people were killed in Israeli air strikes over Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, according to local officials. Among the deceased are seven Syrians, including a family of five, and three Lebanese, reported Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr on X. The conflict in the Wadi Faara area is notable for being the deadliest since the ceasefire that followed a year-long period of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which included a particularly extensive two-month war that severely crippled the militant group.

Hezbollah has yet to release an official response to the latest attacks, but its television outlet, Al-Manar, claimed they represented violations of the ceasefire agreement as well as Lebanon's sovereignty. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that the strikes targeted various military compounds belonging to Hezbollah, which included training facilities linked to its most elite unit, the Radwan Force.

The IDF spokesperson, Lt Col Avichay Adraee, stated on X that the strikes were aimed at military hubs storing combat equipment and operated by "terrorist operatives." The Radwan Force, known for its elite commando operations, has been attempting to regain strength following the loss of its commanders in a heavy Israeli bombardment campaign last September.

Israeli officials have justified the aerial attacks by claiming that Hezbollah's military activities and armament storage in the Bekaa Valley violate the commitments established by the ceasefire and pose a significant future threat to Israel's security. Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the operation serves as a clear warning to Hezbollah and the Lebanese authorities, asserting Israel’s readiness to deploy maximum force against any attempts to restore Hezbollah’s military status.

This recent escalation underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire established in November under the mediation of U.S. officials, which was reliant on the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that concluded the last significant conflict in 2006. It mandated Hezbollah's withdrawal from disputed areas near the Israeli border, while also requiring Israel to vacate its remaining military sites in southern Lebanon, a commitment which Israel has only partially adhered to by maintaining a strategic presence at five key locations. The resolution also reiterated prior calls for the disarmament of all armed factions within Lebanon.