Israeli Air Force jets conducted extensive sorties over Baalbek and Hermel in eastern Lebanon Tuesday night, in a marked escalation of military activity on Israel’s northern front. Lebanese reports and regional observers confirmed sustained overflights—some at low altitude—by Israeli fighter aircraft, but as of this report, no airstrikes have been carried out. The developments unfold against the backdrop of increased hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, which have forced thousands of civilians on both sides of the border to seek shelter or evacuate.
The current spike in tensions follows a significant escalation in cross-border attacks by Hezbollah against Israeli military outposts and civilian communities in the Galilee. The northern border area—once a relative calm—has become a flashpoint for hostilities since the October 7th, 2023 massacre, in which Hamas terrorists executed the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust against Israeli civilians. In response to repeated Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz—has expanded its air and ground operations aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities and signaling decisive readiness to defend Israeli sovereignty.
Baalbek, long recognized as a Hezbollah enclave, holds strategic importance for the terror group. The region is believed to host weapons depots, training facilities, and key leadership command centers linked to Hassan Nasrallah’s organization, according to Israeli and Western intelligence assessments. The Israeli Air Force routinely conducts reconnaissance missions over Lebanese territory to monitor Hezbollah’s entrenchment, and the visible presence of jet fighters over Baalbek is meant as a deterrent and strategic reminder that Hezbollah’s rear areas remain within Israel’s operational reach.
The overflights reportedly induced panic among some residents in Baalbek and Hermel, with local media describing the sound of sonic booms as jets passed overhead. These operations are understood as part of Israel’s evolving strategy to apply pressure and limit Hezbollah’s freedom of movement—particularly as the group has intensified support for Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Iranian-aligned entities that collectively form the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’.
From Israel’s perspective, the ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah is not a discrete campaign but a critical theater within a broader regional war forced upon it by Iran and its proxies. Hezbollah, with substantial Iranian funding and armaments, continues to expand its arsenal—reportedly including precision-guided missiles and attack drones—operating in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandated the disarmament of militias south of Lebanon’s Litani River after the 2006 Lebanon War.
The impact on Israeli civilians has been severe, with rocket and missile fire triggering evacuations across northern towns such as Kiryat Shmona and Metula. The Israeli government, in coordination with local municipalities, has organized large-scale evacuations, deployed advanced defense systems, and reinforced shelters—exemplifying the state’s unbroken commitment to civilian protection and self-defense.
In Lebanon, the consequences are complex. While Hezbollah maintains significant influence, many Lebanese civilians and political voices express deep concerns that the group’s actions, motivated by Iranian interests, place the country at risk of devastating retaliatory strikes with little benefit to ordinary citizens. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have limited capacity to challenge Hezbollah’s military presence, and the state struggles to assert sovereignty amid economic crisis and political paralysis.
Hezbollah’s military doctrine involves embedding command posts and weapons within civilian areas—a practice condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law by human rights groups and the United Nations. Israeli officials repeatedly warn that any attacks launched from such areas make those sites legitimate military targets under the laws of armed conflict, emphasizing that responsibility for endangering civilian lives lies with Hezbollah’s leadership.
Regionally, the flare-up underscores the fragility of the Middle East following the Abraham Accords and renewed international efforts to stabilize Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to patrol the southern border, but compromised operational authority and Hezbollah’s relentless rearmament have diminished its effectiveness. Diplomatic interventions—most recently from the United States, France, and regional actors—have called for de-escalation and the implementation of UN resolutions. President Donald Trump has reiterated calls for Iran to restrain its regional proxies and emphasized that the stability of Lebanon depends on preventing it from becoming a battleground for Tehran’s ambitions.
As Israeli leaders assess the situation, officials stress that any further escalation from Hezbollah—particularly mass attacks on Israeli civilians or military targets—could trigger far-reaching action well beyond the border region. The IDF is prepared for multi-domain operations, including targeted strikes on command infrastructure and deep-lying logistics hubs if necessary, reiterating that Israel’s objective remains purely defensive: to protect its citizens from terror and restore security along its borders.
The weeks ahead are likely to be pivotal, with both sides maintaining heightened alert. Israel’s defensive posture and technological superiority—including intelligence, air power, and missile defense—provide strong deterrence, but the risks of broader confrontation remain. In this climate of uncertainty, Israel continues to emphasize its commitment to defending its people and upholding international law amid growing regional threats posed by Iranian-sponsored terror networks.
