Overnight air strikes carried out by Israel in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes, which targeted Janta, have also left ten others wounded, marking a significant escalation just two months into a fragile ceasefire between the two nations.
The Israeli military disclosed that the strikes were aimed at “multiple” targets associated with Hezbollah, the militant group that has previously engaged in conflict with Israel. In a statement, the military specified that one of the targets involved a Hezbollah site that housed underground infrastructure utilized for both the development and manufacture of weaponry. Additional targets included sites along the Syrian-Lebanese border that Hezbollah is alleged to use for smuggling armaments into Lebanon.
Janta, the village affected by the air strikes, is situated near the Syrian border and has been a focal point of tension, as it experienced Israeli strikes earlier in January. The latest military actions transpired shortly after the Israeli forces intercepted a Hezbollah surveillance drone that was reportedly approaching Israeli airspace, a move the Israeli military characterized as a violation of the ceasefire agreements between the two nations.
In light of these developments, an Israeli military spokesperson reiterated the country’s commitment to the ceasefire, asserting that it would not tolerate any form of terrorism that could jeopardize security. Despite this stance, tensions remain high, particularly as Israel acknowledged its failure to meet a withdrawal deadline from Lebanon that had lapsed on January 26. Tel Aviv now faces a new deadline of February 18 to complete its withdrawal.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that the Lebanese army is responsible for deploying forces in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah retreats north of the Litani River, roughly 30 kilometers from the border area. As part of the agreement, Hezbollah is also tasked with dismantling any remaining military infrastructure it maintains in the southern region, a measure intended to stabilize the volatile situation between the two neighbors.
