NextFin news, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes on Monday in the Bekaa Valley region of northeastern Lebanon, near the town of Hermel, killing five people and injuring five others, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health and multiple news reports.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the targeted sites were used by Hezbollah for training purposes and weapons storage. An anonymous Hezbollah official told media that four of the deceased were members of the group, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The strikes occurred despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in late November 2024. Israel maintains that Hezbollah's presence at these sites violates the ceasefire, although the locations are north of the Litani River, where the ceasefire requires Hezbollah to remove military infrastructure only south of the river.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrikes, accusing Israel of violating the cessation of hostilities and threatening Lebanon's sovereignty. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed it is coordinating with the Lebanese army to maintain stability in the region.
Israel continues to keep troops stationed in southern Lebanon and has reportedly constructed a new training base in the occupied Golan Heights to prepare for potential future operations in Lebanon.
The airstrikes on Monday represent one of the heaviest Israeli bombardments in the Bekaa Valley in recent weeks, escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
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