BEIRUT – Israeli military forces launched bombing operations in eastern Lebanon on Monday, widening their military campaign even as a ceasefire remains in effect that was supposed to reduce hostilities with the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.
Monday’s attacks on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley represent the first bombardment of that region since a United States-mediated truce took effect on April 16, which has decreased the frequency of military exchanges but has not completely ended the fighting.
Israeli forces have maintained their bombing operations throughout southern Lebanon while their ground troops occupy portions of the country’s southern territory, demolishing buildings they claim serve as Hezbollah operational facilities. The Iranian-supported organization has responded by continuing drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli forces within Lebanon and locations in northern Israel.
An Israeli military representative announced they were initiating attacks on Hezbollah facilities in the Bekaa region along with ongoing operations in southern areas. Intelligence sources informed Reuters that bombing occurred near Nabi Chit, a town close to Lebanon’s eastern Syrian border, with no immediate casualty reports.
Lebanon’s official media outlet documented multiple strikes throughout the southern region that injured at least three individuals.
On Monday, Hezbollah reported conducting a drone attack against an Israeli armored vehicle in southern Lebanon. Israeli military officials confirmed that a Hezbollah-launched drone detonated near their personnel in southern Lebanon but caused no injuries.
The conflict has claimed more than 2,500 lives in Israeli bombardments across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah initiated attacks on Israel to support Iran and prompted Israel’s comprehensive ground and aerial military response that has devastated large areas of southern Lebanon.
The warfare has intensified divisions within Lebanese society, with citizens split over Hezbollah’s military capabilities and potential peace negotiations with Israel.
Lebanese and Israeli diplomatic representatives in the United States have conducted two meetings regarding the ceasefire, designed to establish groundwork for direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement between the long-standing adversaries.
Hezbollah strongly rejects direct diplomatic engagement, with leader Naim Qassem characterizing the discussions in a Monday written statement as a “humiliating and unnecessary concession.”
“Let it be clear, these direct negotiations and their outcomes are considered nonexistent to us and do not concern us at all. We will continue our defensive resistance for Lebanon and its people,” Qassem said.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has supported his government’s decision to participate in direct diplomatic talks and on Monday criticized Hezbollah indirectly without specifically identifying the organization.
“What we are doing is not treason; rather, treason is committed by whoever takes his country to war to achieve external interests,” he said in a statement released by his office, an apparent reference to Hezbollah’s decision to enter the regional war last month.
“Some hold us accountable for deciding to go to negotiations on the pretext of the lack of national consensus, and I ask: When you went to war, did you first obtain national consensus?” Aoun said.
