At least 19 killed in Israeli strikes on Baalbek

Israeli strikes killed 19 people including eight women in two towns in Lebanon's Baalbek region, the Lebanese health ministry said on Wednesday.

“Intense raids are currently taking place on the city of Baalbek and its surroundings,” the governor of Baalbek, Bachir Khodr, said.

The bombardment came after Israel issued an evacuation order for Baalbek and two neighbouring towns. It was the first time Israel ordered the evacuation of an entire city. 

The city, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, is home to some of the best preserved Roman temples.

Mayor Mustafa al-Shell said more than 20 strikes were reported on Wednesday afternoon in the Baalbek area, with five inside the city itself, where a UNESCO-listed ancient Roman temple complex is located. 

The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah command-and-control centres and infrastructure in Baalbek and Nabatiyeh, in southern Lebanon.

The military also said it had targeted Hezbollah fuel depots in the Bekaa Valley, where Baalbek is located. It gave no details, but Lebanon's state news agency said diesel tanks were hit in the town of Douris, where Mr Shell said pictures showed a huge column of black smoke rising into the air.

Israel began heavy airstrikes on the historic city of Baalbek in Lebanon as US mediators work on a proposal to halt hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah https://t.co/xfNZ8nD8N3 pic.twitter.com/SH7fKIKThF

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 31, 2024

Many of the evacuees had fled to Baalbek after their towns were bombarded or under evacuation as well. Members of the Civil Defense directed residents to leave the area through megaphones after receiving phone calls from someone identifying themselves as being from the Israeli military.

The attacks came as Hezbollah’s new secretary-general, Naim Qassem, said the group would continue its war plan against Israel under his leadership and that it would not “cry out” for a ceasefire. 

Lebanon's prime minister expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire deal with Israel would be announced within days as Israel's public broadcaster published what it said was a draft agreement providing for an initial 60-day truce. 

He said he became more optimistic after speaking on Wednesday with US envoy for the Middle East Amos Hochstein, who was due to travel to Israel on Thursday.