Intensified Israeli Strikes Across Lebanon
Israel has launched a significant wave of strikes across large areas of southern and eastern Lebanon, following a commitment to intensify military operations against Hezbollah.
The Israeli military reported targeting more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and fighters during one of the most intense nights of bombardment since the US-brokered ceasefire began in mid-April.
Strikes in the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including two children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted locations identified with "terrorist activity."
This escalation followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration that he had instructed forces to "press the pedal even harder" in operations against Hezbollah.
"We will deal them a crushing blow," Netanyahu said in a video statement on Monday night, announcing an increase in the number and intensity of strikes targeting Hezbollah in response to attacks by the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group, including those involving fibre-optic drones capable of evading Israeli defenses.
Ceasefire Violations and Ongoing Conflict
The ceasefire, which came into effect on 17 April, has been repeatedly violated by both parties, jeopardizing the complex negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
Israeli air and artillery strikes have continued daily, particularly in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones targeting northern Israeli communities and Israeli troops stationed in parts of southern Lebanon.
Following Netanyahu's announcement, panic ensued in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, where residents were seen fleeing. Thousands of vehicles congested the streets as families sought safety.
Although the capital was spared overnight, Israeli warplanes conducted multiple waves of strikes across Lebanon throughout the evening and into the early hours. The BBC documented dozens of attacks across nearly 50 locations.
Casualties and Damage in Southern Lebanon
On Monday evening, a man and his wife were killed when their home in the southern town of Arab Salim was struck, and two additional fatalities occurred in the village of Kauthariyet El Rez, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Overnight strikes destroyed several homes in Mashghara, with unverified social media footage showing streets of damaged and burning buildings, accompanied by raging fires.
The Lebanese health ministry reported recovering the bodies of 11 individuals from the rubble, including one woman and two children, and noted that 15 others were injured.
The Israeli military released aerial footage from Mashghara purporting to show multiple strikes on "Hezbollah infrastructure sites where terrorists activity was identified," adding, "During the strike the terrorists were eliminated."
Additionally, the military stated it had targeted over 90 weapons storage facilities, command centers, observation posts, and other Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon overnight.
Evacuation Orders and Military Statements
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders across Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of breaching the ceasefire terms established between the Israeli and Lebanese governments on 17 April.
Colonel Avichay Adraee, the military's Arabic-language spokesman, stated that Hezbollah's repeated violations left Israeli forces no alternative but to respond.
"Hezbollah's repeated breaches had left Israeli forces with no choice but to act," Col Avichay Adraee said.
In response, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted three barracks and a military post in northern Israel, citing Israeli ceasefire violations.
Context of the Escalation
Netanyahu's directive to intensify strikes followed the Israeli military's announcement that a soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Sunday. This death raised Israeli military fatalities from Hezbollah attacks since the conflict began on 2 March to 23 soldiers, along with one civilian contractor.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes during the same period have resulted in at least 3,185 deaths.
