At least 12 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a village in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley late Monday, according to Lebanese rescue workers and local media. Several others were injured as overnight strikes targeted parts of southern and eastern Lebanon amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had authorised stronger military action against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon. While the Israeli military did not directly comment on the specific strike, it said its operations were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon.
Rescue teams recovered bodies from the rubble after buildings were damaged during the attacks. Hezbollah, meanwhile, continued launching attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and towns in northern Israel, saying it would keep fighting until Israel halts its airstrikes and withdraws its forces from Lebanese territory.
The escalation comes ahead of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations scheduled to take place in Washington in three days. The Lebanese government hopes the talks could help pave the way for a ceasefire, although Hezbollah has opposed the negotiations.
