Israeli Airstrikes Kill 10 in Lebanon, Target Hezbollah and Hamas

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley killed at least 10 people and wounded 24, targeting Hezbollah command centers and a Hamas site in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. The attacks follow ongoing tensions after Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel, with Hezbollah supporting Hamas. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, Israel continues strikes, citing threats from Hezbollah and Hamas, while Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah remain incomplete.

At least ten people were killed and twenty-four others wounded on Friday in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting locations in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to reports from Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The strikes, described by the Israeli military as operations against Hezbollah command centers, are among the deadliest incidents in the region in recent weeks. Among those killed was a senior Hezbollah official, sources told Reuters, underscoring the high-level impact of the attacks. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Germany, and several Sunni Arab countries. The European Union, while not labeling the entire group as a terrorist organization, lists its armed wing specifically as a terrorist entity.
In addition to targeting Hezbollah, the Israeli military also struck what it claimed was a Hamas command center in the Ain al-Hilweh area of southern Lebanon. Ain al-Hilweh is a densely populated Palestinian refugee camp. According to Israel, the strike was aimed at preventing Hamas militants from operating within the camp. The militant Islamist group Hamas acknowledged that two of its members were killed in the attack, but rejected Israel’s characterization of the building as a command center, calling the justification a “flimsy pretext.” Hamas stated that the building was part of a joint security force responsible for maintaining order within the camp. In response, Israel reaffirmed that it is committed to acting decisively against Hamas militants wherever they operate, asserting that the strikes are part of its broader campaign against the group’s entrenchment in Lebanon. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Germany, and several other countries.
The current escalation in Lebanon is linked to ongoing tensions that date back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel from Gaza. Following the attack, Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinian people. Israel retaliated with a combination of airstrikes and artillery shelling. This cycle of violence escalated into full-scale war in September 2024, prompting the United States to broker a ceasefire in November 2024. Despite the truce, Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have continued, with Israel citing the need to target militants from Hezbollah and Hamas.
Lebanon’s government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and the Lebanese army recently announced it had completed the first phase of the plan in areas near the Israeli border. However, Israel has criticized the Lebanese army’s efforts as insufficient and accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild and rearm its forces. The repeated Israeli airstrikes, including those on Friday, highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing challenges in maintaining stability along the Lebanon-Israel border.
The strikes not only reflect the ongoing military confrontation between Israel and militant groups in Lebanon but also raise concerns about the potential for further escalation. With Hezbollah and Hamas maintaining significant capabilities within Lebanese territory, and Israel determined to neutralize perceived threats, the risk of additional casualties and a broader conflict remains high. Regional actors and international observers continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and adherence to the ceasefire to prevent renewed large-scale hostilities.
The attacks underscore the complex dynamics in Lebanon, where the presence of multiple armed groups, political tensions, and international interventions contribute to a precarious security environment. As Israel continues to target what it deems terrorist infrastructure and leadership within Hezbollah and Hamas, the local civilian population in areas like the Bekaa Valley and Ain al-Hilweh faces increased risks, highlighting the humanitarian dimension of the ongoing conflict.