Israeli Airstrikes Kill 12 in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Including Hezbollah Fighters and Syrian Workers
Hezbollah Condemns Deadliest Strikes Since Ceasefire Collapse; Israel Targets Elite "Radwan Force"
Watan-Bashir Khodr, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel, reported that Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on Tuesday killed 12 people, marking the deadliest wave of attacks since a ceasefire ended months of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel last year.
A security source confirmed that five of the dead were Hezbollah fighters, while the other seven were Syrian nationals, many of whom work in the region’s agricultural fields.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hezbollah strongly condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them:“A dangerous escalation in the ongoing aggression against Lebanon and its people.”
Hezbollah called on the Lebanese government to:“Act seriously, immediately, and firmly to confront international actors—especially those guaranteeing the ceasefire—and hold them accountable.”
Details of the Strikes
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes in eastern Lebanon, particularly in the Bekaa Valley. Two of the strikes hit:
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The outskirts of Shmistar
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Wadi Umm Ali, both west of Baalbek
Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed TV also reported that Israeli jets targeted:
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The outskirts of Brital
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Taria
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Bouday—all towns in the Bekaa Valley region
These attacks come despite the ceasefire agreement that began on November 27, which sought to halt hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. However, Israeli forces continue to strike southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs, and reportedly maintain a military presence at five points in southern Lebanon.
غارات إسرائيلية على جرود بوداي وبريتال في البقاع pic.twitter.com/eLbMx5MQFu
— Lebanon 24 (@Lebanon24) July 15, 2025
Israel Confirms Targeting Hezbollah’s Elite Forces
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Tuesday that the ongoing strikes were a “clear message” to Hezbollah, which he accused of trying to rebuild its strike capabilities via its Radwan Force, the elite military unit of the group.
The Israeli military also confirmed it had launched airstrikes against Radwan Force positions in the Bekaa region earlier in the day
