BEIRUT: Israeli warplanes on Tuesday carried out airstrikes for a second consecutive day in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley further escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes targeted a facility belonging to Hezbollah, resulting in the death of at least one member of the group, according to Lebanese sources.
Reports indicate that Hezbollah had previously launched more than 100 rockets at Israeli targets earlier in the day, marking one of its most significant barrages since the onset of the ongoing hostilities, which have been occurring parallel to the conflict in Gaza.
The fatal airstrike occurred in the village of Nabi Chit, located in a stronghold of Hezbollah near the Lebanese-Syrian border. While one Hezbollah member was confirmed dead, several others sustained injuries in the attack.
Israeli Strikes in Lebanon
The recent surge in violence between Israel and Hezbollah, sparked by the Gaza conflict, has led to heightened fears of a broader conflict between the two heavily armed adversaries. While the majority of confrontations have been concentrated along the Israeli-Lebanese border, notable incidents include Israeli airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley on February 26 and a drone strike in Beirut on January 2 that targeted a senior Hamas leader.
Hezbollah retaliated to Israeli shelling in the Bekaa region on Monday with a barrage of rockets, prompting further exchanges of fire. Tragically, civilian casualties were reported, with at least one person killed and several others injured in Monday’s Israeli strikes.
Notably, one of the strikes hit the southern entrance to the historic city of Baalbek, located approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from its ancient Roman ruins.
