Israel attacks East Lebanon, 2 Hezbollah members killed

Israeli strikes near the Hezbollah-dominated town of Baalbek on Monday killed two members of the group, the first attacks in Lebanon’s east since clashes erupted following the Gaza war. Two Hezbollah members were killed in Israeli strikes near Baalbek, a security official told AFP. Another security source also confirmed the death toll. Earlier on Monday, a source told AFP that an Israeli strike in the Baalbek suburb hit a Hezbollah civilian organization building.

The second Israeli strike hit a warehouse belonging to an Iran-backed group near Baalbek, the source said. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press. The Israeli military said it is currently attacking Hezbollah terrorist targets inside Lebanon. Monday’s attacks were the first on Hezbollah outside Lebanon’s south since hostilities began in the wake of the October 7 Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley is a Hezbollah stronghold on the border with Syria. Earlier on Monday, the group said it had shot down a large Israeli drone in southern Lebanon. Since October 8, Hezbollah and its archenemy Israel have exchanged fire almost daily, but attacks have been largely confined to the border between the two countries – although Israel has occasionally launched airstrikes in Lebanon, including Beirut. Attacks have been launched elsewhere. In January an attack widely attributed to Israel killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri and six militants in Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold.