During a speech by Hezbollah's new Secretary General Naim Qassem, the Israeli Air Force attacked the city of Baalbek in Lebanon, the country's fourth most populous city. Baalbek, located near the border with Syria, is one of Hezbollah's strongholds and is known for its strategic importance to the organization.
The attack coincided with Qasem's official appeal, which may indicate an attempt by Israel to put pressure on Hezbollah in response to its increased activity in the region. The strikes, according to unconfirmed reports, targeted infrastructure and facilities associated with the organization, but official sources have not yet reported the scale of destruction or casualties.
Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia organization created in the 1980s with Iranian support. It combines political and military activities, seeking to protect the interests of Lebanon's Shia population and oppose Israel. Hezbollah's military wing has fought in conflicts, including the Syrian civil war on the side of Bashar al-Assad's government, and actively opposes Israeli forces. The political wing is represented in the Lebanese parliament, exerting significant influence on the country's domestic politics.