The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is carrying out strikes in Lebanon, sending a strong message to Hezbollah. "They are trying to rebuild their attack capabilities against us with the Radwan unit," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said today.
The strikes focused on the Beqaa Valley in northeastern Lebanon, targeting Radwan training facilities and weapons depots.
Established in 2006, Radwan is Hezbollah's most elite special forces unit and spearheads the group's operations inside and outside Lebanon.
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Smoke rises in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, during an October 2024 attack. Photo: Reuters |
Smoke rises in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, during an October 2024 attack. Photo: Reuters
Gallant urged the Lebanese government to actively implement its obligation to disarm Hezbollah as agreed. "We will attack the enemy and prevent any threat to the residents of northern Israel, as well as the entire country. Any attempt by Hezbollah to rebuild its strength will be met with maximum firepower," he stressed.
The Lebanese government has not commented, while the Lebanese National News Agency confirmed that "enemy fighters" had attacked the area southeast of Baalbek, the largest city in the region, killing 12 people.
Since the ceasefire with Hezbollah in 11/2024, Israel has continued to carry out dozens of airstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon, mainly against Hezbollah's bases and weapons depots. However, the IDF has rarely carried out attacks deep inside Lebanon like during the peak of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
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Location of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. Graphics: RENA |
Location of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. Graphics: RENA
Israeli intelligence sources believe that the Radwan unit had planned a large-scale raid into northern Israel, but the plan was postponed after Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7/10/2023.
The Beqaa Valley, with its difficult terrain, has long been considered one of Hezbollah's strongholds and was a key route for transporting weapons from Syria to Lebanon before former president Bashar al-Assad was overthrown.
Israeli officials believe that Hezbollah's reopening of weapons depots in the area "has violated the agreement between Israel and Lebanon and should be considered a potential threat to Israel's national security".
Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, Times of Israel)
