An Israeli airstrike on a village in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people, the country's state-run National News Agency said Tuesday. The strike late Monday in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley area came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had authorized more intensive strikes targeting the Hezbollah militant group across Lebanon. The Israeli military did not comment on this particular strike, but said Monday that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon.
Rescue Operations and Casualties
Rescue workers reported that a dozen bodies were pulled out of the rubble following an intense wave of overnight strikes targeting swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon. The number of casualties is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Escalation Ahead of Washington Talks
The intensified attacks come three days before Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are set to meet in Washington for direct talks. Hezbollah has been attacking Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and northern Israeli towns, and has vowed to continue fighting until Israel stops its daily airstrikes and withdraws its troops from the country.
The Lebanese government hopes that the direct talks with Israel, which are opposed by Hezbollah, will lead to a ceasefire. Over one million people in Lebanon have been displaced in the war, which was sparked by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran.
Observers are closely watching the developments as the conflict continues to impact the region. The United Nations and other international bodies have called for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic negotiations.
