Latest: Hezbollah Targets Israeli Military Base in Response to Raids in Eastern Lebanon
Hezbollah targets Israeli military base in response to raids in eastern Lebanon, escalating tension in the region. Israeli retaliation results in casualties for Hezbollah.
Baalbek (Lebanon) (AFP) - In a significant development, Hezbollah has announced its responsibility for a bombing on an Israeli military base in response to recent raids in eastern Lebanon. This marks the first instance of such action since the start of the war in Gaza. The attack resulted in the loss of two lives within the ranks of the powerful Lebanese group.
According to Hezbollah, they launched 60 Katyusha rockets at the Nafah base on the occupied Golan Heights as a response to Israeli strikes on the Baalbeck region in the Bekaa plain.
The Israeli army confirmed that "dozens of rockets" were fired from Lebanon when questioned by AFP.
Earlier, Israel had declared that it targeted Hezbollah positions in Baalbeck as a retaliatory measure for a surface-to-air missile strike that destroyed a large Israeli drone in southern Lebanon.
A security source informed AFP that one of the strikes hit a Hezbollah depot, while the other struck a building belonging to the Islamist group on the outskirts of the town of Baalbeck, known for its Roman temple.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of two of its fighters.
The Israeli army stated that its fighter jets targeted Hezbollah air defense sites in the Bekaa Plain. These strikes were carried out in response to a surface-to-air missile attack that damaged a Hermes-450 drone earlier in the day.
The Baalbeck region, located in the Bekaa and bordering Syria, serves as a stronghold for Hezbollah, which maintains a significant military presence there.
Hezbollah also announced that its "anti-aircraft defense unit" successfully shot down a large Israeli drone of the Hermes 450 type, approximately twenty kilometers from the border with Israel.
- Hezbollah member killed -
The strikes on Baalbeck on Monday are the first to target Hezbollah outside the southern region of Lebanon, which has been experiencing daily violence since the war in Gaza began on October 7.
On January 2, an Israeli raid targeted a senior official of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, in the suburbs of Beirut. The raid resulted in the death of Saleh al Arouri, the Hamas official, and six other Hamas members.
Since the start of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah has been consistently targeting Israeli military positions in support of its Palestinian ally, while Israel has conducted strikes on border villages and carried out targeted operations.
On Monday, a strike targeted a car in al-Majadel, a village in southern Lebanon located approximately fifteen kilometers from the border. A rescuer reported one fatality without disclosing the identity, before Hezbollah announced the death of one of its fighters.
According to an AFP count, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 281 people, including 196 Hezbollah fighters, members of allied groups, and at least 44 civilians.
On the Israeli side, the army reported the deaths of ten soldiers and six civilians.
Hezbollah has stated that it will cease its attacks on Israel once the war in Gaza comes to an end.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant cautioned on Sunday that a potential truce with Hamas in the Gaza Strip would not undermine Israel's objective of pushing Hezbollah away from its northern border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction: Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent bombing by Hezbollah on an Israeli military base in response to raids in eastern Lebanon.
Q: What was the target of the bombing carried out by Hezbollah?
A: Hezbollah targeted an Israeli military base on the occupied Golan Heights with 60 Katyusha rockets.
Q: Why did Hezbollah carry out this attack?
A: The attack was in response to Israeli strikes on the Baalbeck region in the Bekaa plain of Lebanon.
Q: How many casualties were there in the attack?
A: The attack resulted in the death of two individuals within the ranks of Hezbollah.
Q: What was the reason behind the Israeli strikes on the Baalbeck region?
A: Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in Baalbeck as retaliation for a surface-to-air missile strike that destroyed a large Israeli drone in southern Lebanon.
Q: Where is the Baalbeck region located?
A: The Baalbeck region is located in the Bekaa, bordering Syria, and serves as a stronghold for Hezbollah with a significant military presence.
Q: Has Hezbollah been targeted outside the southern region of Lebanon before?
A: No, the strikes on Baalbeck mark the first time Hezbollah has been targeted outside the southern region, which has been experiencing daily violence since the start of the war in Gaza.
Q: How many casualties have occurred in the conflict so far?
A: According to an AFP count, at least 281 people, including 196 Hezbollah fighters, members of allied groups, and at least 44 civilians, have been killed.
Q: What is the stance of Hezbollah regarding attacks on Israel?
A: Hezbollah has stated that it will cease its attacks on Israel once the war in Gaza comes to an end.
Q: What is Israel's objective regarding Hezbollah?
A: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized that a potential truce with Hamas in Gaza would not undermine Israel's objective of pushing Hezbollah away from its northern border.
