Hezbollah Warns of Retaliation to Israel’s “Expanding” Baalbek Strikes

Hezbollah has reported the loss of two of its members due to Israeli assaults, criticizing Israel for attempting to widen its attack scope. This follows reports from security sources of two Israeli airstrikes targeting the eastern part of Lebanon.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has seen an increase in cross-border exchanges since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza started last October. The tension has heightened over recent weeks with Israel executing more profound airstrikes into Lebanon, particularly targeting areas in the Bekaa Valley known as Hezbollah strongholds.

Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Naim Qassem, expressed concerns on Sunday about Israel’s intensified assaults on civilian areas, including Baalbek in western Bekaa, promising retaliation for each attack. While Hezbollah confirmed the death of their fighters as “martyrs” in these Israeli strikes, further details about their demise were not disclosed.

On a related note, an Israeli airstrike near the Syrian border resulted in the death of a Syrian driver early Sunday. This strike, which targeted a vehicle in Suwairi, was part of a series of violent incidents. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the deceased was delivering food for a supermarket owner, with images from the scene showing a heavily damaged and burned blue vehicle.

Additionally, an Israeli operation targeted a deserted Hezbollah facility in Baalbek, wounding four individuals. This incident ended a short-lived calm that had persisted for about 10 days.

Responding to the Israeli actions, Hezbollah launched over 60 Katyusha-type rockets at Israeli military sites in the occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military acknowledged around 50 rocket launches from Lebanon but reported no casualties or damage.

The confrontations, which began on October 8 in support of Hamas by Hezbollah, have led to significant casualties and displacement. Hezbollah, aligned with Hamas and supported by Iran, has seen at least 326 of its members killed, along with more than 50 civilians. In northern Israel, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 soldiers and seven civilians, with tens of thousands displaced in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.