In a shocking turn of events, Israeli air strikes have claimed the lives of 12 individuals in the Wadi Faara area of Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, according to Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr. Among the deceased are seven Syrians, including a family of five, alongside three Lebanese nationals. Two additional casualties were reported in Shmustar. These air strikes mark the most deadly incident since a ceasefire was brokered following a tumultuous year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes were aimed at various military facilities linked to Hezbollah, including training sites tied to its notorious Radwan Force. This comes as Hezbollah has yet to publicly address the attacks, though its Al-Manar TV station criticized them as violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and the existing ceasefire.
In a statement, Lt Col Avichay Adraee from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailed the targeting of military compounds used for storage and training by the Radwan Force, highlighting ongoing concerns over Hezbollah's military resurgence since it was significantly weakened in previous conflicts.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the strikes would send a potent warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, stating Israel's readiness to counter any attempts to rebuild military capabilities. The implications of this recent violence threaten to destabilize the fragile peace established by a ceasefire agreement, mediated by the U.S., which required full adherence to UN Security Council resolution 1701 from both sides.
As tensions rise, the situation remains precarious, with local schools and communities expressing fears of a return to war following the latest Israeli operations.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes were aimed at various military facilities linked to Hezbollah, including training sites tied to its notorious Radwan Force. This comes as Hezbollah has yet to publicly address the attacks, though its Al-Manar TV station criticized them as violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and the existing ceasefire.
In a statement, Lt Col Avichay Adraee from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailed the targeting of military compounds used for storage and training by the Radwan Force, highlighting ongoing concerns over Hezbollah's military resurgence since it was significantly weakened in previous conflicts.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the strikes would send a potent warning to both Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, stating Israel's readiness to counter any attempts to rebuild military capabilities. The implications of this recent violence threaten to destabilize the fragile peace established by a ceasefire agreement, mediated by the U.S., which required full adherence to UN Security Council resolution 1701 from both sides.
As tensions rise, the situation remains precarious, with local schools and communities expressing fears of a return to war following the latest Israeli operations.
