Israeli Airstrikes Hit Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, South Amid Escalating Tensions

Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on several towns in eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday, as tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border continued to escalate following attacks claimed by Hezbollah.

The strikes targeted areas in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon as well as multiple towns in the country’s south, according to Lebanese media reports.

The escalation came after the Israeli military earlier issued warnings to residents in parts of the Bekaa region, urging evacuations ahead of the strikes. Preliminary reports indicated casualties from the bombardment, while residents continued to flee affected areas following Israeli threats of further attacks.

At the same time, Israeli drones were reported flying intensively and at low altitude over the Lebanese capital Beirut and its suburbs, as well as over several southern Lebanese towns.

The developments followed a series of operations carried out by Hezbollah over the past two days against Israeli positions near the border.

Among the attacks cited was a drone strike targeting the Ras Naqoura area near the southern Lebanese border in territory controlled by the Israeli military, reportedly causing injuries.

Clashes were also reported after an Israeli force moved from the town of Arsheef toward Hadatha in southern Lebanon, leading to direct confrontations that reportedly resulted in casualties among Israeli forces.

Cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified in recent months, raising concerns of a broader regional escalation amid ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.