Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrikes on E. Lebanon

At least six were killed and 25 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Friday on the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, reported Xinhua, quoting the country's National News Agency.

Among those killed was a Hezbollah commander identified as Hussein Yaghi, Lebanon's official and security sources confirmed.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source told Xinhua that Israeli aircraft launched six strikes on residential areas and Hezbollah sites. Ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in the region, while civil defense teams continued to search for missing persons under the rubble.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it struck Hezbollah command centers in the city of Baalbek, located in the Bekaa Valley, claiming that Hezbollah militants used the targeted centers to advance "terror" attacks against IDF troops and Israel.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Hezbollah and Israel engaged in cross-border fighting following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.

A ceasefire agreement between the two sides has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are aimed at eliminating Hezbollah threats.