By Dina Al-Amood | Staff writer
Israel conducted airstrikes in Eastern Baalbek near the Syrian border on Monday. The attack marks Israel’s deepest attack on Lebanon since the confrontations started in October.
The airstrikes targeted the Bekaa Valley, a stronghold of Hezbollah, “in response to the firing of surface-to-air missiles at a Zik drone,” explained the Israel Defense Forces spokesman Avichay Adraee. The Israeli army claimed to have targeted “aerial defense” sites in the area in its first raid. The second raid targeted an empty, three-story building.
According to Lebanese security forces, two Hezbollah members were killed. Also, injuries were sustained by Hezbollah members, civilians, and Lebanese Armed Forces personnel. An Israeli drone then targeted a car in Tyre south of Lebanon only a few hours later. The attack killed an undetermined number of Hezbollah members.
In response, Hezbollah retaliated by firing “dozens of rockets” at an Israeli army headquarters in the Golan Heights, according to the Israeli army.
This escalation raises concerns about further violence and the potential for regional spillover from the Gaza conflict. The continual fighting since October had previously been contained at the southern Lebanese border.
According to an AFP tally, up until Monday, February 26th, the 142-day confrontation led to 281 Lebanese casualties, of which 44 were civilians. Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported 6 civilian casualties out of 16. The security threat displaced resides on both sides of the border.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Sunday that even if a ceasefire is brokered in Gaza, Israel would not slow down its crackdown on Hezbollah.
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