Israel launches airstrikes on Hezbollah stronghold.

Israeli troops bombed a Hezbollah weapons factory in the northern city of Baalbek, considered a stronghold of the group.

According to an AFP reporter, the Israeli air force attacked a Hezbollah facility in Baalbek on March 24 that the group had abandoned for some time, injuring three nearby residents. "Five Israeli missiles struck a two-story building occupied by people in al-Osseira, on the outskirts of Baalbeck," the source said.

Avichay Adraee, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), later announced that "Israeli fighter jets struck a Hezbollah weapons production facility in Baalbek," but provided no further details.

Location of the city of Baalbek. Graphic: Britannica

Following the airstrike on the city of Baalbek, Hezbollah announced it had retaliated by firing more than 60 rockets at two IDF positions. The IDF said it detected about 50 projectiles, some intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, while others fell into open areas.

Baalbek, a city in northern Lebanon, is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. The IDF recently launched an increasingly deep offensive into Lebanese territory targeting Hezbollah positions, escalating the risk of conflict in the region.

Cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has occurred almost daily since the Hamas offensive in early October 2023. Hezbollah has stated that it will only cease attacks on Israel if there is a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has killed at least 323 people in Lebanon, including 56 civilians. According to Israeli officials, at least 10 Israeli soldiers and 7 civilians have been killed. The fighting has forced thousands of people in southern Lebanon and northern Israel to flee their homes.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned in February that a potential ceasefire in the Gaza Strip "would not affect Israel's goal of pushing back Hezbollah by force or diplomatic means."

Israeli F-15 fighter jets during exercises in October 2021. Photo: IDF

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP )

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