Intense Airstrikes Target Surroundings of Baalbek in Eastern Lebanon for the Second Time Since 2006

Israeli warplanes launched consecutive violent strikes on the city of Baalbek. A correspondent from the "National News Agency" reported that Israeli aircraft targeted a residential building in the town of Ansar in the Beqaa area, south of Baalbek. Flames and columns of smoke were seen rising from the targeted location. According to preliminary information, the airstrikes targeted the Shamsar area near the Al-Mahdi schools and a vehicle in the Durus area near Dar Al-Amal Hospital. Hezbollah imposed a security cordon around the warehouse that was targeted in the Israeli strike. One of the strikes also targeted carpet storage facilities in the mountains of Taraya. A Lebanese security source reported that six Israeli airstrikes targeted Taraya and Durus in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon. The initial toll of the Israeli attack in the Beqaa and Baalbek area stands at six wounded who were transported to hospitals in the region. Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bashir Khadr stated that "the governorate was subjected to several Israeli airstrikes, targeting Durus, Taraya, and Shamsar, with no precise information yet on casualties." He noted that "the strike on Durus targeted an olive oil factory, and communication was lost with one of the workers following the airstrike." The home of Dr. Rakan Alam, owner of Dar Al-Amal Hospital, was also damaged due to the strike that occurred near the hospital. MP Yanil Salah visited the wounded from the treacherous Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Baalbek, which resulted in injuries to several civilians who were taken to hospitals in Baalbek for treatment. Salah confirmed that "these cowardly attacks do not frighten us and only indicate the weakness and despair of the enemy; they also demonstrate the predicament it is facing, especially in its battle against the resistance." Salah believed that "the response of the resistance to the targeting of civilians will be painful, and it is well aware of that." Hebrew outlets described the attack as "unusual and exceptional," occurring 100 kilometers from the Israeli border and deep within Lebanese territory.