Israel conducted airstrikes near the city of Baalbek on Monday, resulting in the deaths of two Hezbollah members, according to security sources. This marked the first attack on Lebanon’s eastern region since tensions escalated following the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted Hezbollah’s air defense systems in response to the group shooting down one of its drones in southern Lebanon earlier that day.
A security official in Lebanon, speaking to AFP, confirmed the deaths of two Hezbollah members in the Baalbek strikes. Earlier reports suggested that Israeli airstrikes hit a Hezbollah building in a Baalbek suburb and a warehouse belonging to the group near Baalbek.
Both sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the press.
Hezbollah later confirmed that two of its fighters were killed by Israeli fire in Baalbek. The Israeli army stated that the strikes targeted Hezbollah’s “aerial defense” sites in the Bekaa valley in response to the launch of a surface-to-air missile that downed the Israeli drone.
This incident marked the first Israeli attack on Hezbollah outside Lebanon’s south since the conflict began between Israel and Hamas, a Hezbollah ally.
Later on Monday, a separate Israeli strike on a car in southern Lebanon reportedly resulted in at least one fatality, as per local rescuers.
Since October 8, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire, mostly confined to the border region. However, Israel has occasionally targeted areas beyond Lebanon’s south, including Beirut.
During a funeral procession for a Hezbollah fighter, lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah condemned the strikes on Baalbek, vowing increased determination in the face of Israeli aggression.
Hezbollah has expressed willingness to halt attacks on Israel if the Israeli military ceases its offensive in Gaza.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with at least 280 people killed in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians, and 10 soldiers and six civilians killed in Israel, according to official tallies.