At least 12 people were killed and 24 injured in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley on Friday, according to Lebanese authorities and security sources cited by AFP.
Local television footage showed a heavily damaged residential building at one of the strike locations. The Israeli military said it had targeted “command centres” belonging to Hezbollah in the valley.
Senior figure reported among dead
Security sources told Reuters that Hussein Yaghi, described as a senior Hezbollah leader, was among those killed. He was the son of former Hezbollah lawmaker Mohamed Yaghi. Hezbollah-affiliated media reported that his funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
The strikes were among the deadliest in eastern Lebanon in recent weeks and have heightened tensions in the region.
Ceasefire under strain
The escalation threatens a fragile US-brokered ceasefire agreed in 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah after more than a year of cross-border hostilities. Since then, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.
Earlier on Friday, another Israeli strike hit the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon. The Israeli military stated it had targeted a “Hamas command centre” in the camp. Hamas confirmed that two of its members were killed but denied that the building served as a command centre.
Lebanese leaders have warned that continued strikes could further destabilise the country, which is already facing political and economic challenges. International observers have expressed concern that renewed hostilities could derail efforts to maintain calm along the border.