Israel Bombs Bekaa Valley in Lebanon: Latest Updates on Clashes with Hezbollah

2024-04-18 00:33:39

Clouds of smoke rise from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon (REUTERS)

Israel bombed again this Wednesday the Bekaa Valley, a region in the east of the Lebanon away from the border between both countries, a few hours after an attack by the Shiite group Hezbollah caused at least 16 injuries in the north of the Jewish State.

Three missiles hit a building located in a residential area of ​​the Lebanese town of Iaat, a few kilometers from the tourist city of Baalbek, which is home to Greco-Roman ruins declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, reported the National News Agency (ANN). ).

The television channel Al Manarwho acts as a spokesman for Hezbollah, also confirmed that the area has been the target of an Israeli airstrike, without it being known at the moment if any casualties have been reported.

The Bekaa Valley is an important stronghold of the Shiite movement and in the last two months it has been bombed by Israel on several occasions, despite the fact that the crossfire between the parties continues to be concentrated mainly in the areas near the de facto border between the two countries.

Action against Iaat occurs after Hezbollah attacked facilities in the Israeli town of Arab al Aramsheh with missiles and drones this Wednesdaywhich the formation described in a statement as the “headquarters of the new military reconnaissance unit.”

Israel confirmed that the attack injured 18 people, including 14 soldiers, one of the highest numbers since the start of border clashes more than half a year ago.

Hezbollah militiamen (REUTERS)

The parties continue with the crossfire that they are carrying out in parallel to the Gaza war, in the midst of growing regional tension after the attack carried out over the weekend by Iran with more than 300 drones and missiles fired towards Israeli territory, where no one was registered. dead.

According to an agency count AFP, The almost daily exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has so far left 363 dead in Lebanon, most of them terrorists, and more than 150,000 displaced on both sides of the border. The Israeli army claims that 10 soldiers were killed in this crossfire and that eight civilians were killed.

On the occasion of the six months of clashes, the commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Aroldo Lázaro, and the special coordinator of the organization in the country, Joanna Wronecka, called on the parties to seek a negotiated solution “while there is still room for diplomacy.”

Those responsible recalled in a joint statement that this outbreak of violence represents the “most serious” violation to date of the Security Council resolution that ended the war waged in 2006 by Hezbollah and the Jewish State. “The violence and suffering have gone on too long, they must end. “We urgently call on all parties to recommit to the cessation of hostilities within the framework of resolution 1701 and take advantage of all avenues to avoid further escalation while there is still room for diplomacy,” they asked.

(With information from AFP and EFE)

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