12 dead in Israeli strikes, including Hezbollah fighters
Israeli airstrikes killed 12 people in eastern Lebanon on July 15th, including 5 Hezbollah fighters. The strikes were intended as a clear message to deter the Iran-aligned group from rebuilding its influence in the region, according to Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters.
The Israeli military reported that the airstrikes targeted facilities throughout the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. According to Bachir Khodr, the governor of the Bekaa region, seven of those killed were Syrian nationals. The strikes have been the most severe within the region since the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect last November.Â
Within the past year of fighting, Israel inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah- eliminating key figures, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, and severely crippling the group’s weapons capabilities.
The airstrikes will send a “clear message” to Hezbollah, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz stated. This comes after Israel accused Hezbollah of reportedly planning to rebuild its Radwan force for cross-border raids.
Katz warned Hezbollah that Israel “will respond with maximum force to any attempt at rebuilding” and said the airstrikes also served as a warning to the Lebanese government. Neither Hezbollah nor Lebanese officials issued immediate statements in response to the attacks.
This escalation comes as Washington submitted a new proposal to the Lebanese authorities, calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament within the next four months. In exchange, Israel would suspend airstrikes and withdraw troops from the remaining positions it still holds in Southern Lebanon.Â
The deal builds on the existing ceasefire facilitated by the US and France, which mandates the Lebanese Armed forces to seize “all unauthorised weapons”, beginning in the region south of the Litani River.
Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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