An IDF flier that was dropped over civilian regions of the Bekaa Valley

WATCH: Israeli Air Force Targets Hezbollah Strongholds

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The Judean Staff
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The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a comprehensive series of airstrikes Wednesday afternoon, targeting Hezbollah terror positions in southern Lebanon. These powerful strikes took place in the vicinity of Nabatieh, a Hezbollah stronghold located northwest of the Israeli border town of Metula, and extended even further north into Lebanese territory, reflecting Israel’s resolute stance in defending its borders from the Iranian-backed militia.

Morning Onslaught: Over 100 Hezbollah Targets Struck

By morning, the IAF had already executed precision strikes on over 100 Hezbollah installations in southern Lebanon. These targets were not just military posts or training camps, but included a network of underground bunkers and weapons depots that have long been used by Hezbollah to stockpile arms, primarily supplied by Iran. The attacks sent shockwaves through Hezbollah’s infrastructure, delivering a powerful message that Israel would not stand idly by while its enemies fortify their positions so close to its borders.

Casualties Mount in Bekaa Valley

As the day unfolded, Lebanese authorities reported escalating casualties, revealing the devastating impact of the IAF’s afternoon strikes on Baalbek and Hermel, both nestled deep in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed the deaths of four people and injuries to 38 others. These cities, far removed from the immediate border conflict, have long served as logistical hubs for Hezbollah’s smuggling and arms trafficking operations.

Baalbek, a city of significant strategic value, lies 50 miles (80 km) from Israel’s northern frontier, while Hermel, more remote at 90 miles (145 km), remains a crucial node in Hezbollah’s regional operations. It is through these regions that Iranian supplied arms, as well as foreign fighters are smuggled in through Syria.

Airstrikes Rock Southern Lebanon’s Mediterranean Coast

Meanwhile, along Lebanon’s southern Mediterranean coast, Israeli media reported extensive airstrikes around the port city of Tyre. Located approximately 20 miles (33 km) northwest of Metula and 31 miles (50 km) north of Israel’s coastal city of Nahariya, Tyre has long been associated with Hezbollah naval assets and drug & weapons smuggling routes. These strikes were not isolated attacks; they were part of a synchronized operation aimed at crippling Hezbollah’s coastal fortifications, potentially disrupting their maritime supply chains.

Death Toll Rises as Airstrikes Intensify

The sheer scale of Israel’s military operation became clearer as the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 22 people had been killed and 95 others wounded by Israeli airstrikes between dawn and 2:30 pm. Though Hezbollah fighters are among the dead, the toll does not explicitly distinguish between combatants and civilians, a tactic Hezbollah has historically used to blur the line between military and civilian casualties in its war of propaganda. Hezbollah's use of civilian areas for military operations continues to place Lebanese citizens in harm’s way.

Late-Night Raids in Baalbek: A Devastating Blow to Hezbollah

As Tuesday night wore on, Israeli warplanes and drones resumed their relentless assault on Baalbek, a Hezbollah bastion. The strikes continued past midnight and into the early morning hours, targeting not only the city itself but also its surrounding villages and strategic supply routes, including the vital road to the town of Nahleh. These raids hit deep into Hezbollah territory, targeting key villages such as Janta, Nabi Chit, Brital, Taybeh, and many more. Each strike was precise, intended to dismantle Hezbollah’s elaborate arms network while avoiding unnecessary civilian casualties where possible.

Secondary Explosions Confirm Hezbollah Weapons Cache

The precision of Israeli strikes was underscored by dramatic secondary explosions, caught on video and widely shared across social media before being swiftly removed from Hezbollah-affiliated channels. In one particularly damning incident, a massive explosion rocked the Al-Salah Islamic High School in Baalbek after it was struck. The subsequent blast confirmed the building was not merely an educational facility, but a concealed Hezbollah weapons storage site. The powerful detonations—some occurring up to four minutes after the initial airstrike—served as undeniable evidence of the group’s continued practice of embedding military assets in civilian infrastructure, much like their counterparts in Gaza.

Destruction and Fear Grip Lebanon

The aftermath of these airstrikes left a trail of destruction, with homes, factories, and warehouses laid to waste. Hundreds of homes near targeted sites had their windows blown out, illustrating the magnitude of the blasts. Even more troubling, missiles stored within Hezbollah strongholds were inadvertently launched by the force of the airstrikes, striking other buildings and exacerbating the chaos. Residents were left in a state of panic, with fear spreading across southern Lebanon as Hezbollah’s recklessness continued to endanger the civilian population.

Unprecedented Strikes Beyond Hezbollah’s Southern Strongholds

In a rare move, Israel also struck Hezbollah positions outside their traditional southern and eastern strongholds. Two particularly lethal strikes in Lebanon's mountainous Chouf region killed four people in the village of Joun. Meanwhile, separate airstrikes in Maaysra, north of Beirut, and Ain Qana, in the south, claimed the lives of an additional six individuals, further underscoring Israel’s reach and determination to uproot Hezbollah from any and all of its hiding places.

These latest airstrikes are part of Israel’s broader strategic campaign to neutralize Hezbollah's terror infrastructure, which threatens not only Israel's northern communities but regional stability as a whole. As the dust settles, the world watches closely, aware that this could be a critical turning point in Israel's ongoing battle to secure its borders and dismantle Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon.

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