Israeli military operations in eastern Lebanon resulted in significant casualties on Friday, claiming at least ten lives and wounding two dozen individuals, including three children. The assault, which represents a clear breach of the November 2024 ceasefire accord, targeted areas east and south of the country, according to official statements from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Among the deceased was Muhammad Hassan Yaghi, a military leader within Hezbollah’s ranks, whose death was confirmed by the group on Saturday following strikes in the Bekaa Valley. Local media assessments suggest the death toll may be higher, estimating at least a dozen fatalities with over thirty people injured across various locations in Lebanon. Search and rescue missions remain active at the impacted sites as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
The offensive drew sharp condemnation from Lebanese and Palestinian leadership. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun cautioned that persistent Israeli violations are sabotaging diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering regional stability. Meanwhile, Hamas strongly denounced the targeting of the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon, the largest Palestinian refugee settlement in Lebanon, where preliminary reports indicate at least two fatalities.
In an official statement released Friday, Hamas rejected Israel’s justification that it was targeting a terrorist operations center as ‘a flimsy pretext that does not stand up to scrutiny.’ The group characterized the attack as ‘another crime against the Palestinian people and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty,’ emphasizing that targeting a densely populated civilian refugee camp constitutes a dangerous escalation and blatant disregard for international laws.
This incident marks the latest development in Israel’s expanding military campaign beyond Gaza, where continuous bombardment has created a severe humanitarian crisis despite an October truce agreement. Although Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024, Israeli strikes have persisted almost daily, resulting in over 370 fatalities since the agreement took effect.
The ongoing violence continues despite Lebanon’s implementation of disarmament initiatives. In January, the Lebanese army completed the initial phase of a government-led plan to disarm Hezbollah fighters in border regions, part of broader efforts to strengthen state authority and reduce armed activity along the frontier. Authorities have additionally supervised the transfer of weapons from various Palestinian factions in refugee camps to Lebanese security institutions throughout the past year as part of this same initiative to limit non-state armed groups’ presence.