Overnight Israeli strikes target south and Bekaa in major escalation

Israel carried out around 20 airstrikes overnight on areas in south and east Lebanon, claiming they contained Hezbollah sites and weapons.

In the South, the strikes targeted the outskirts of the Sidon district towns of al-Bissariyeh, Bnaafoul and Qaaqaaiyet al-Snoubar, the Ras Mazeh heights in Iqlim al-Tuffah, the al-Rihan, al-Jabbour and al-Srayra areas in the Jezzine district, and the outskirts of Ramia in the Bint Jbeil district.

Four Israeli airstrikes also targeted the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Shmestar.

The Israeli army said it targeted “several military sites and terrorist infrastructure belonging to … Hezbollah throughout Lebanon.”

“Among the targets targeted was terrorist infrastructure containing combat equipment in the Sidon area, which had recently witnessed Hezbollah attempts to rebuild after it had been bombed in the past,” the Israeli army added.

“Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon were also targeted, containing missile platforms, which Hezbollah has been attempting to rebuild,” it said.

It warned that “the presence of these combat means in the designated areas and the activities of Hezbollah elements therein constitute a flagrant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” adding that it will “continue to operate to eliminate any threat” and “prevent any attempt by … Hezbollah to establish itself.”