Beirut: Israeli strikes on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people on Tuesday, Lebanese state media reported, as the Israeli army said it hit Hezbollah targets in the area.
According to France24.com, Israel's military stated it was targeting Hezbollah's elite Radwan force, marking its latest attack on Lebanon despite a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.
A military statement from Israel noted that fighter jets executed "numerous strikes" on "Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Bekaa." Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that these strikes delivered "a clear message" to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, which he holds accountable for upholding the ceasefire agreement. Katz asserted that Israel would "strike every terrorist and thwart any threat to the residents of the north and to the State of Israel."
Katz further pledged to "respond with maximum force against any attempt at rebuilding" Hezbollah's capabilities. The military statement highlighted that since the elimination of Radwan force commanders in September, the unit has been attempting to reestablish its capabilities. It described the storage of weapons and other activities at the targeted sites as "a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," posing a future threat to Israel.
Under the November ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was expected to retreat its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed entities in the region. Israel was obligated to fully withdraw its troops from the country but has retained them in five locations it considers strategic.