Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley Kill 10, Test Fragile Hezbollah Ceasefire

At least 10 people were killed and around 50 others wounded after Israeli airstrikes hit Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, according to two security sources who spoke to Reuters. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted Hezbollah sites in the Baalbek area, marking one of the deadliest escalations in eastern Lebanon in recent weeks and raising concerns about the stability of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

The attacks occurred on Friday and focused on what Israel described as Hezbollah command centers in Baalbek, located in the eastern Bekaa Valley. In a follow-up statement issued Saturday, the Israeli military said it had eliminated several members of Hezbollah’s missile unit across three separate command centers. According to Israel, the sites were being used to accelerate the group’s operational readiness and plan rocket attacks against Israeli territory.

Hezbollah confirmed that eight of its fighters were killed in the strikes, including commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi. The Iran-backed Shi’ite group has been engaged in ongoing tensions with Israel despite a ceasefire agreement reached in 2024. The truce, brokered by the United States, was intended to halt more than a year of cross-border violence that culminated in heavy Israeli bombardment aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s military capabilities. Since the agreement, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.

In a separate development, the Israeli military said it struck a Hamas command center in Ain al-Hilweh, a densely populated Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon. Israel claimed militants were operating from the location. Hamas denied the allegation, stating the targeted facility belonged to the camp’s Joint Security Force responsible for maintaining order.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strikes in both Bekaa and Sidon, calling them a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international obligations. He urged the United States and other global stakeholders to intervene and prevent further escalation, warning that continued military action could destabilize Lebanon amid its ongoing political and economic crises.