Israeli military operations in Lebanon resulted in significant casualties among Hezbollah ranks on Friday, with eight members of the militant group confirmed dead according to an anonymous official. The strikes targeted a Hezbollah meeting in the eastern Bekaa Valley, notably distant from the typical conflict zones near the Israeli border.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they specifically targeted ‘several terrorists of Hezbollah’s missile array’ across three separate command centers in the Baalbek area. These attacks occurred shortly after separate Israeli operations against Hamas targets in southern Lebanon, where two people were killed at the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the attacks as ‘a blatant act of aggression’ that undermines diplomatic efforts toward regional stability. The violence comes at a delicate time, with the United States and Iran experiencing heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and President Donald Trump threatening military action.
The strikes have complicated Lebanon’s delicate political landscape, where the government recently announced the army would begin implementing the second phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah lawmaker Rami Abu Hamdan responded by demanding Beirut suspend meetings of the multinational ceasefire committee until Israel ceases its attacks.
An AFP correspondent in eastern Lebanon documented extensive damage in residential areas, with bulldozers clearing debris in Bednayel and a heavily damaged building between Riyak and Ali al-Nahri where the Hezbollah members were reportedly meeting. The health ministry confirmed 10 fatalities in the east and two in the south, all in areas where Hezbollah maintains significant influence.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire agreement intended to halt hostilities, Israel has maintained regular strikes against Hezbollah targets while occasionally targeting Hamas operations in Lebanon. Israel maintains that Lebanon’s progress on disarming Hezbollah has been insufficient and accuses the group of continued rearmament since the last major conflict.