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Bekaa Valley airstrikes
Israeli airstrikes on Friday hit sites in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, around Baalbek and Riyaq.
“At least 10 people were killed and about 50 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Friday in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, security sources told international media.”
Multiple Lebanese and international reports said the strikes killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens, while some outlets reported higher tolls.
Several sources said Israel struck what it called Hezbollah 'command centres' in the Baalbek area, and local and Hezbollah-linked reporting indicated a senior Hezbollah figure was among the dead.
Reports vary on the total killed and wounded: many outlets and Lebanon’s health ministry cited 'at least 10' dead and more than two dozen wounded, while other accounts reported roughly a dozen or 12 dead and up to about 50 wounded.
Israeli framing of strikes
Israel’s military statements repeatedly described the strikes as aimed at Hezbollah "command centres" and accused the group of embedding assets among civilians or storing weapons and funds.
The military framed the raids as responses to ceasefire violations.
Several outlets quote Israeli military language that presents the operations as counter-measures to ongoing threats and to alleged Hezbollah rearmament since the 2024 ceasefire.
Those reports portray the strikes as part of a broader campaign of operations that Israeli officials say have continued since the truce.
Reactions to strikes
Hezbollah and Lebanese officials reacted angrily.
“Hezbollah said eight of its fighters were killed, including three local commanders — Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammed al-Moussawi and Hussein Yaghi”
Hezbollah confirmed multiple fighters were killed and named local commanders.
Hezbollah's leaders used strong language condemning the strikes.
Lebanese government officials and politicians described the attacks as breaches of the ceasefire and called for international pressure.
Hezbollah-linked outlets and regional sources listed several commanders by name.
Lebanese state and health agencies provided casualty tallies that some international outlets echoed.
Ceasefire strains and tensions
Analysts and several news outlets warned the strikes risk further undermining the U.S.-brokered November 2024 ceasefire.
They cautioned the strikes could escalate regional tensions that have included near-daily Israeli raids since the truce.
Coverage links the incidents to broader regional dynamics, including US warnings about possible action against Iran if nuclear talks fail.
Reports note both sides dispute the geographic and substantive scope of the ceasefire, with Lebanon and Hezbollah saying it applies only in the south.
Ain al‑Hilweh strike dispute
The Bekaa strikes came hours after an Israeli strike hit the Ain al‑Hilweh (Ein el‑Hilweh / Ain el‑Hilweh) Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon that several outlets said killed two people.
“Israel also said it hit a Hamas command centre in the Ain al‑Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon; Hamas denied the claim, saying the target belonged to the camp’s Joint Security Force.”
Israel described that hit as targeting a Hamas command centre.
Hamas and other camp actors disputed that claim, saying the building targeted belonged to the camp’s Joint Security Force or denying it was a Hamas facility.
Coverage of the camp strike shows explicit disagreement between Israeli statements and Palestinian/Hamas denials.