The Israeli military said it was “currently striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley” on Monday, marking the first time since the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire began that it has hit targets outside southern Lebanon.
Like the south, the Hermel and Baalbeck areas of the eastern Bekaa Valley are predominantly Shia areas and a stronghold of Hezbollah. The area witnessed a high concentration of Israeli strikes in the first month of the war, but like Beirut and its southern suburbs, the Bekaa has been virtually untouched since April 8, with strikes occurring mostly in the vicinity of the “advanced" Israeli defense zone in south Lebanon.
Expanding Targets
Last night, a drone attack killed one IDF soldier and wounded six others in southern Lebanon, according to official Israeli sources, with Hezbollah-aligned media placing the incident in the town of Taybeh. He was the third soldier to have died in this theater of the war since March 2.
The IDF said an explosive-laden drone exploded near forces on Monday but did not cause any injuries. Later air defenses intercepted another drone, which the IDF said was targeting the army.
Yesterday, Israel issued evacuation warnings to several villages in the southern Nabatieh district north of the Litani River, citing an increase in activity and direct attacks on Israeli military personnel. Strikes were subsequently reported across the area, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
This area, adjacent to the village of Taybeh to its south, has been the scene of a high concentration of the fighting in recent days. Some speculate that the operating environment is easier for Hezbollah as the Nabatieh district is located north of the Litani River, allowing Iran-backed militants to avoid river-crossing infrastructure, which has been heavily degraded.
Escalating Statements
The strikes came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli Defense Forces to forcefully strike Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, according to a statement issued by his office on Saturday, April 25.
Earlier today, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem once again rejected direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, saying, “We will continue our defensive resistance to protect Lebanon and its people.”
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