RAYAK, Lebanon (AP) – Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon on Friday night resulted in the deaths of at least eight members of the militant group Hezbollah, as confirmed by two officials from the organization on Saturday. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported a total death toll of 10, without distinguishing between militants and civilians. The strikes targeted several locations near the village of Rayak in northeast Lebanon.
The Hezbollah officials indicated that the fatalities included local commanders, specifically naming Ali al-Moussawi, Mohammed al-Moussawi, and Hussein Yaghi. According to the Israeli military, the operations aimed at eliminating key members of Hezbollah’s missile unit across three command centers in the Baalbek region. They stated that these individuals were perceived as escalating activities aimed at preparing for attacks on Israel.
The Israeli army's spokesperson detailed that the airstrikes were part of ongoing efforts to thwart Hezbollah’s military capabilities, which had been perceived as increasingly threatening since the outbreak of regional conflict following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. This attack had significantly escalated hostilities, prompting Hezbollah to launch rockets into Israel, leading to Israel's retaliatory actions through airstrikes and shelling.
On the morning following the strikes, an Associated Press team observed significant damage in Rayak, noting that the top floor of a three-story building had been completely destroyed. The Health Ministry of Lebanon later disclosed that 24 people were wounded in the aerial bombardment, which included three children. Ali Abdullah, executive director of Rayak Hospital, specified that they received ten bodies, alongside numerous injuries that included victims from Syria and Ethiopia, emphasizing the international dimension of the casualties as many Ethiopians work as migrant domestic workers in Lebanon.
Among the deceased was Hussein Yaghi, identified as the son of a prominent Hezbollah official, Mohammed Yaghi, who passed away earlier in 2023. Mohammed Yaghi had historical ties to the late Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2024. This connection underscores the significance of the recent strikes, as they not only targeted Hezbollah militants but also struck at the heart of the organization's leadership lineage.
In the aftermath of the airstrikes, a public funeral took place in Nabi Chit, a village near the site of the strikes, to honor the fallen Hezbollah members. This event highlights the profound impact of such military actions on local communities and the ongoing cycle of conflict in the region.
The recent conflict escalated into full-scale warfare by September 2024, resulting in intermittent hostilities that persisted despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire two months later. Israel has since intensified its military actions, reportedly conducting near-daily strikes targeting Hezbollah positions, claiming that the group has been trying to rebuild its operations since the ceasefire.
The death toll from Friday's strikes, reaching a peak of ten, illustrates the heightened volatility currently permeating the region, compounded by ongoing tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program and its support for both Hezbollah and Hamas. As the U.S. issues warnings about potential military responses against Iran, the dynamics of conflict continue to evolve, raising fears of further escalations in Lebanon and beyond.
