Reports of Israeli Airstrike in Baalbek District, Northeast Lebanon

By Yoni Weiss

Lebanese media sources reported Thursday of an Israeli airstrike in the northeastern Baalbek District of Lebanon, near the town of Douris. Social media footage depicts smoke billowing from the targeted location. Baalbek, historically identified as a stronghold of Hezbollah, lies approximately 100 kilometers from the Israeli border.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed on Wednesday that the IDF had neutralized half of Hezbollah’s commanders in southern Lebanon. This announcement followed a series of Israeli strikes against numerous sites affiliated with the terror group.

Gallant emphasized Israel’s objective to repatriate tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by Hezbollah’s continuous attacks in the region. He noted ongoing efforts to achieve this goal, highlighting the critical period ahead.

During Gallant’s visit to the Northern Command headquarters in Tzfas, the IDF disclosed that approximately 40 Hezbollah targets in Ayta ash-Shab had been struck within a brief timeframe by fighter jets and artillery shelling. This action occurred in response to Hezbollah’s earlier firing of anti-tank missiles at a community in northern Israel.

The IDF clarified that the strikes targeted weapon depots and other assets associated with Hezbollah. It underscored the organization’s utilization of Ayta ash-Shab for “terror” activities and the positioning of numerous sites in the area.

In its statement, the IDF asserted that the strikes aimed to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure along the border and were not a direct response to any specific attack.