Citing Lebanon’s National News Agency, ANI reported at least seven air raids on towns in the Bekaa Valley and the mountainous Baalbek region in eastern and northeastern Lebanon—areas well beyond the southern border
Pic/AFP
The Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes across multiple regions in Lebanon on Thursday, marking another breach of the fragile November ceasefire with Hezbollah, according to a report by ANI.
Citing Lebanon’s National News Agency, ANI reported at least seven air raids on towns in the Bekaa Valley and the mountainous Baalbek region in eastern and northeastern Lebanon—areas well beyond the southern border. Additional strikes targeted the Ghaziyeh area in southern Lebanon, sparking a fire at a warehouse.
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the operation, describing it as a "violent renewed attack on the largest site for the production of precision missiles belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon," as per local broadcaster Channel 12.
“Every attempt by the terrorist organisation to recover, reposition, or threaten will be met with relentless force,” ANI quoted Gallant as saying.
The airstrikes hit several areas, including the outskirts of Brital and Nasiriyah towns in the Bekaa Valley, Tallet al-Sunduq, Jarmak in Jezzine, and the Mahmoudiya and Khardali regions.
On the same day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his long-standing call for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons to the national army. “The extension of the Lebanese state’s authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups, including Hezbollah, and their handover to the Lebanese Army,” he said during a televised address from the Defence Ministry.
“For the thousandth time, I assure you that my concern for a [state] weapons monopoly comes from my desire to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty and borders, to liberate occupied territories, and to build a nation that embraces all its citizens,” Aoun added, describing Hezbollah supporters as an “essential pillar” of Lebanese society.
His comments came amid growing pressure from Israel’s main ally, the United States. However, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected such appeals on Wednesday, stating, “Anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons—whether internally or externally, on the Arab or international stage—is serving the Israeli project,” ANI reported.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on October 8, 2023, after the Lebanese group launched attacks in support of Hamas during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Despite a ceasefire agreement in November, Israel has continued its aerial operations and insists on disarming Hezbollah.
As part of the ceasefire terms, Hezbollah was expected to pull back north of the Litani River, while Israel agreed to withdraw from Lebanese territory. However, Israeli forces reportedly continue to hold five strategic locations.
Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s proposal to revise the U.S.-brokered disarmament terms, calling for an “immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities,” full Israeli withdrawal, the release of Lebanese detainees, and a comprehensive plan to strengthen the Lebanese Army.
“Today, we must choose between collapse and stability,” Aoun declared, urging a timeline for the disarmament of all armed groups—including Hezbollah—and the transfer of their weapons to the military.
The proposal also calls for USD 1 billion annually from international donors over a decade to reinforce the Lebanese Army, along with a global donor conference to finance reconstruction in areas affected by the conflict, ANI reported.
(With inputs from ANI)
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