Israeli Army Attacks Village in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

Israeli Strikes in Lebanon

The Israeli army has launched an attack on a village in the Bekaa Valley, as reported by local media, amid rising concerns over possible escalation from Israel in light of government pressures to disarm the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

In a social media post, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents of the village of Sohmor to evacuate their homes ahead of a planned strike on a building he claimed housed "Hezbollah military infrastructure."

The Israeli military stated that it is targeting multiple "Hezbollah sites" in Lebanon, without specifying exactly where the attacks are taking place. Al Manar TV, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that the Israeli army targeted two residential buildings in Sohmor.

Israel has been conducting near-daily strikes against Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah that went into effect at the end of 2024. These attacks have intensified in recent months as Israel, along with its primary ally, the United States, has exerted pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.

Last week, the Lebanese army announced that the first phase of its plan to take control of all weapons held by non-state actors in southern Lebanon had been completed. The army claimed it has established a state monopoly on weapons in the south, without specifically mentioning Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese cabinet has requested that the army report back next month on how it will pursue disarmament in other parts of the country. However, a senior Hezbollah official warned the Lebanese government that attempting to disarm the group nationwide would lead to chaos and a potential civil war.

Hezbollah asserts that it must keep its arms to deter Israel from occupying additional territories in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese army is not prepared to respond. They have declared their intention not to cooperate with the army in this regard.

In an interview with Russian media outlet RT, Hezbollah political official Mahmoud Qmati stated that pursuing a state monopoly on weapons in the northern regions would be "the greatest crime committed by the state" and would lead to instability.

Al Jazeera reported that by attacking areas north of the Litani River, the Israeli army is signaling that it has "entered phase two of the disarmament plan." The Lebanese army has stated that it needs time to develop a plan, which it will present to the government next month.