Israeli Airstrikes Kill Hezbollah Members in Eastern Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon killed at least eight members of Hezbollah on Friday, officials from the militant group said Saturday. The strikes, concentrated near the village of Rayak in northeast Lebanon, mark some of the deadliest reported in the region in recent weeks and raise concerns about escalating tensions.
Details of the Strikes
Hezbollah officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deaths of eight fighters. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported a total of 10 fatalities and 24 injuries, including three children, though it did not differentiate between militants and civilians . Ali Abdullah, executive director of Rayak Hospital, stated that the hospital received 10 bodies and 21 wounded individuals following the strikes, which occurred after sunset. Among the wounded were Syrian and Ethiopian nationals .
Key Hezbollah Figures Among the Dead
Three of the deceased Hezbollah members were identified as local commanders: Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammed al-Moussawi, and Hussein Yaghi . Hussein Yaghi was the son of Mohammed Yaghi, a prominent Hezbollah official and one of the group’s founders, who died in 2023. His father was also a close aide to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024.
Israeli Military Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes targeted Hezbollah command centers in the Baalbek area, eliminating several members of the group’s missile unit . The IDF claimed these members were “operating to accelerate readiness and force build-up processes, while planning fire attacks toward Israel.”
Escalating Tensions and Ceasefire Concerns
The strikes are among the deadliest in eastern Lebanon in recent weeks and risk disrupting a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been strained by frequent accusations of violations . The current conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, with Hezbollah initiating rocket fire from Lebanon in support of Hamas and the Palestinians. Israel responded with airstrikes and shelling, escalating to a full-scale war in September 2024 before being partially curtailed by the U.S.-brokered ceasefire two months later.
Israel has since accused Hezbollah of rebuilding its capabilities and has conducted near-daily strikes targeting militants and facilities. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for one strike against Israel since the ceasefire.