Hezbollah officials declared on Saturday that the group has no option but to continue its armed resistance against Israeli forces, following a devastating Israeli air campaign that killed eight operatives and several civilians across eastern and southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military confirmed strikes against Hezbollah command centers in the Bekaa Valley and Hamas targets in the south. Furthermore, Lebanon’s health ministry reported ten fatalities in the east, which sparked immediate outrage from local militant leaders and officials.
“What happened yesterday in the Bekaa is a new massacre and a new aggression,” stated Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati. He argued that the group maintains no other alternative to defend the country’s sovereignty besides direct military resistance.
Consequently, hundreds of supporters gathered in Baalbek for the funeral of commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, waving flags and chanting. An anonymous official told AFP that a single strike killed all eight members during a strategic meeting in Bednayel.
Threats to the Ceasefire
The strikes occurred as the Lebanese army prepared the second phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah militants in the south. However, President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, calling them a blatant act of aggression designed to thwart international diplomatic efforts.
Washington currently oversees a multinational committee to maintain the November 2024 ceasefire, yet Israel continues to launch regular operations. Israel insists it retains the right to strike because Hezbollah allegedly continues to rearm despite previous agreements and international pressure.
Hezbollah lawmaker Rami Abu Hamdan demanded that Beirut suspend all committee meetings until Israel ceases its frequent and deadly attacks. Simultaneously, tensions between the United States and Iran continue to build as President Donald Trump threatens potential military action.
Hamas also condemned a strike on Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, which killed two people during a security force operation. Because Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem previously warned that any attack on Iran constitutes an attack on his group, regional stability remains fragile.
