Israel has yet to comment on the incident. Over the past five weeks, Israel has launched thousands of strikes across Lebanon, targeting alleged Hezbollah operatives, weapons, and facilities. Baalbek's governor, Bachie Khodr, described these recent strikes as the most intense since hostilities with Hezbollah escalated last month. Unverified social media posts show buildings damaged, fires raging, and residents in Boudai appealing for heavy machinery to aid those trapped.
Bilal Raad, the head of Baalbek's Civil Defense, compared the strikes to a "ring of fire" and noted they hit residential areas, while limited equipment has hindered rescue efforts. The town of Al-Allaq saw the worst casualties, with 16 people from one family killed.
UNESCO confirmed that the Baalbek World Heritage site remains intact, based on satellite imagery. In Tyre, additional strikes on Monday left seven dead and 17 injured. Hezbollah reported border clashes with Israeli forces and claimed to have fired rockets at an Israeli naval base near Haifa.
Cross-border conflict escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, after Hezbollah began supporting Palestinians following a deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel. Lebanese health officials report that over 2,700 people have died, 12,400 are injured, and approximately 1.3 million people have been displaced in Lebanon since the fighting began.
