Israeli airstrikes struck the ancient Lebanese city of Baalbek on Wednesday, hours after Israel issued an evacuation warning to residents, heightening tensions and displacing thousands in the UNESCO-listed city known for its Roman temples and architecture, but also its Hezbollah presence, ABC News reported.
In the hours following the evacuation announcement, airstrikes struck key locations within Baalbek, targeting what Israel said are Hezbollah-linked sites. This action is part of an expanded Israeli operation that began a month ago, primarily focused on southern Lebanon, but is now reaching further north amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah, CNN reported.
Israeli forces had intensified their bombing campaigns in Lebanon since early October when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, which has been engaged in a fierce conflict with Israeli forces in Gaza.
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