By all accounts, Israel intensified its bombing campaign across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley yesterday. Some number of strikes came close to the Qaraoun Dam, which holds back the Lake Qaraoun reservoir in the southern Bekaa Valley, about 40 km southeast of Beirut. Clashes between Hezbollah fighters and IDF troops were also reported along the Litani River.
Israel’s military said yesterday that it struck more than 100 Hezbollah sites across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley area overnight, saying it targeted storage facilities, command centres and observation points used to attack Israeli troops and residents in northern Israel, reported AP. One strike hit the eastern village of Mashghara, killing 12 people including several members of a family, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said. Israel in recent days has intensified strikes in Nabatieh city and province, just north of the river. On Tuesday it warned city residents to leave.
Hezbollah meanwhile said it launched several rocket, artillery and exploding drone attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles mobilising along the river toward the Nabatieh villages of Yohmor al-Shaqif and Zawtar al-Sharqieh.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that Israel is “intensifying operations” in Lebanon by taking strategic positions and reinforcing the security buffer zone as the IDF pushed past the lines it held as it seeks to counter the recent surge in drone attacks by Hezbollah.
“We are intensifying our operations in Lebanon. The IDF is operating with significant forces on the ground and taking control of strategically dominant positions. We are reinforcing the security buffer zone in order to protect the communities of northern Israel,” Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, reported The Times of Israel.
ToI further reported that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee updated the White House on Monday night on Israel’s intention to expand operations in Lebanon, and the American message in turn was “not to bring down buildings in Beirut,” according to a Channel 12 report. A senior Israeli official told the network that “There is approval for targeted assassinations in Beirut if an operational opportunity presents itself.”
Senior Israeli officials similarly acknowledged to Channel 13: “We have freedom of action in southern Lebanon—less so in Beirut. We do not want to be perceived as undermining President Donald Trump’s agreement with Iran.”
The Kan public broadcaster cited a senior IDF official expressing frustration with the apparent restrictions from Washington, saying: “We need to do much more. Israeli sovereignty is being violated every day. The IDF is exercising significant restraint because we are operating under understandings with the United States and the Lebanese government. We cannot accept the current reality without the ability to respond.”
