A member of the Political Bureau of the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command," Anwar Raja, confirmed in a statement to "Wirdna" that an Israeli airstrike occurred shortly after 2 AM on Wednesday on an old site of the Front in the Qusayyah area in Baalbek, Lebanon, resulting in the martyrdom of 5 of the leadership cadres and members of the Front, as well as 10 injuries, in addition to material losses. Raja considered that "the Israeli enemy managed to deliver a severe blow that led to the martyrdom of some military leaders in the Front, but these sacrifices and martyrs will not break us, but will increase our determination and faith despite the bitterness of loss. This is our destiny, and this is the nature of the ongoing conflict."
Regarding the specific targeting of this site, Raja said, "The enemy, due to its state of anxiety and confusion, and the shaken security perception upon which it bases its theory, following several battles with the resistance axis, including the recent battle in Gaza, sought to send a message to the resistance axis wherever it could." He emphasized that "the enemy denied its responsibility due to the state of confusion and the complex political and security calculations that could arise from this aggression, and out of fear of certain reactions. As usual, it denies responsibility for many security operations even in Arab and European capitals, targeting scientists. When the situation is sensitive, with consequences and results that may not serve its security and policies, it hides behind its finger."
Raja pointed out, "We are not on the brink of escalation at all, as there are political and security calculations, and everyone is preparing for rounds, but we are not in an atmosphere of direct confrontation under these circumstances." About whether the response to the Israeli strike would be from within Lebanon, Raja confirmed that "this is not expected, especially since Lebanon has its calculations and sensitivities, and we are keen not to engage in any random or direct reactions that could give the enemy a pretext for aggression. It is not at all likely that any direct reactions will take place from Lebanon. However, from within Palestinian territories, this will definitely happen, as we are in an ongoing daily conflict with the enemy. We do not wait for aggression to respond; rather, we are in a state of daily engagement with the enemy."
Raja concluded his statement, saying, "Our battle is open, and it is a battle of wills, a battle of awareness, arising from the understanding of the nature of the ongoing struggle with the enemy, which is the enemy of the entire nation. We support ourselves deeply in the resistance axis to be the free ones of this nation."
On another note, two Lebanese security sources and one Palestinian security source told Reuters that "five members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were killed in an explosion overnight in Lebanon near the border with Syria." The Israeli army stated to Reuters that it does not comment on reports made by foreign media. An Israeli source confirmed to Reuters that "the Israeli army had nothing to do with the explosion near the Lebanon-Syria border." An Israeli army radio correspondent reported that Israeli officials said, "There was no Israeli attack on the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on the Lebanese-Syrian border." A source in the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine" confirmed to Reuters that "an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon resulted in the deaths of 5 members of the Front and injured 10."
It was reported that a strong explosion was heard in several villages in Baalbek at night, causing several injuries that were transported to the "Nazareth" hospital affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent in Bar Elias, where their minor burns were treated before they left. Additionally, three wounded were transported to the Syrian side of the border. Information regarding the source of the explosion varied, with some claiming it resulted from an airstrike by the Israeli army, while some media sources stated that it was due to the explosion of a missile belonging to Palestinian factions in the Qusayyah area.
