A Syrian national was killed and dozens of other people were injured in a new wave of Israeli airstrikes that targeted different parts of the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon on Thursday, February 26. Extensive material damage was also reported in the targeted areas.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) claimed that the offensive was launched against eight military compounds belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

The IOF alleged that the targeted sites were used by the Radwan Force to store numerous weapons, including rockets, and for training purposes in order to launch attacks against Israel.

The renewed aggression was waged two days after the Lebanese Army announced that one of its observation posts at the southern border, in the Sarda – Marjeyoun area, came under fire from the Israeli side.

The army added that an Israeli drone was flying at low altitude at the time of the offensive, threatening the deployed Lebanese Army personnel to evacuate the area.

In response to the onslaught, the Lebanese Army Command issued orders “to reinforce the post, remain in it, and respond to the sources of fire.”

On Saturday, February 21, the IOF had killed at least 12 people, and injured dozens of others in a series of strikes on different areas across the Bekaa Valley.

Although Israel never stopped its assaults on Lebanon after it signed the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in November 2024, the current week marked a considerable escalation in its attacks.

For many, Netanyahu’s government decided to intensify the aggression on Lebanon in a bid to exert further pressure on the Lebanese state, so that the latter would restrain Hezbollah from supporting Iran, should the US and Israel launch a new aggression on the Islamic Republic.

Read more: Hezbollah vows to respond if Iran is attacked

Lebanese state seems to have acquiesced to Israel’s provocation

Media reports surfaced on Thursday, citing Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam saying that “the decision on war and peace is in the hands of the state alone”, emphasizing that “Lebanon does not need to enter into adventures to support Iran”, because “it costs it dearly”.

Critics perceived Salam’s statements as a form of acquiescence to Tel Aviv’s provocation, especially because he was instead expected to demand that Israel stop violating Lebanon’s sovereignty with its continuous attacks.

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