Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Expands Attacks into Syria
Airstrikes kill five in Lebanon, target Syria’s military posts.
Israel intensified its military operations on Monday, launching rare airstrikes in northeastern Lebanon that killed five people, including four Hezbollah members, and conducting separate strikes in Syria’s Homs and Latakia provinces. The attacks, which targeted Hezbollah infrastructure near the Syrian border, have heightened tensions despite a US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, as global pressure grows to disarm the Lebanese militant group.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the strikes hit the fringes of Hermel and Bekaa provinces, wounding five others. A Hezbollah official, speaking anonymously, confirmed four of the deceased were members of the group. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the air force targeted Hezbollah positions, including a training area for the elite Radwan Forces, in a region far from Israel’s border, marking a departure from Israel’s frequent strikes in southern Lebanon.
The ceasefire, which ended a year-long conflict that killed over 4,000 people and caused billions in damages, requires Hezbollah to withdraw armed presence south of the Litani River and Israel to vacate five captured hilltop outposts. Hezbollah claims compliance but refuses disarmament talks until Israel halts attacks and withdraws. Lebanon’s government recently endorsed a military plan to gradually disarm Hezbollah but opposes direct confrontation.
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In Syria, Israeli warplanes struck a military post in Homs, followed by attacks in Latakia, as reported by Syrian state media and pro-government outlets. No casualty details were immediately available, and Israel offered no comment. Since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes to neutralize Syrian military assets, citing security concerns.
The strikes underscore Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hezbollah and its allies, raising fears of renewed escalation as Lebanon and Syria grapple with fragile stability.
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