BEIRUT, March 7, 2026
A devastating escalation unfolded in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley early Saturday as Israeli air and ground attacks killed at least 41 people and wounded around 40 others in the town of Nabi Chit, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The assault marks one of the deadliest single incidents since the latest phase of the regional conflict erupted.
🇱🇧 A Night of Raids and Clashes
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that the violence began when an Israeli commando unit infiltrated the area under the cover of darkness, approaching a family cemetery in the eastern part of Nabi Chit. Residents and Hezbollah fighters detected the unit, sparking intense clashes involving light and medium weapons.
As the firefight escalated, Israeli warplanes and helicopters launched approximately 40 air raids, striking residential zones and the outskirts of the town. The Ministry confirmed that three Lebanese army soldiers and one member of the General Security Directorate were among the dead.
🚁 Ground Incursion From the Syrian Direction
Hezbollah stated that its fighters observed four Israeli helicopters entering Lebanese airspace from the Syrian direction, landing troops near the Nabi Chit cemetery. The group said its fighters engaged the advancing forces, prompting Israel to intensify aerial bombardment to cover the unit’s withdrawal.
The NNA described the operation as one of the deepest Israeli incursions into Lebanon in years, surpassing previous cross-border raids and signaling a dangerous expansion of the conflict’s geographic scope.
🔥 Wider Regional Escalation
The attack comes amid a broader surge in hostilities following Hezbollah’s missile strikes on Israel earlier in the week, launched in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel has since intensified operations across Lebanon, including in the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Simultaneously, clashes erupted along the Lebanon–Syria border, where Hezbollah fighters said they confronted Israeli forces attempting a landing operation. The group also claimed responsibility for rocket barrages targeting Israeli positions in southern Lebanon at dawn.
🕊️ Humanitarian Toll and Local Response
Residents of Nabi Chit described scenes of destruction as emergency crews struggled to reach affected neighborhoods amid ongoing bombardment. The Ministry of Health warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue to search through rubble.
Hezbollah’s artillery units reportedly launched counter-fire to support local fighters and hinder the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Armed groups from nearby villages also joined the defense, according to local reports.
⚠️ No Comment From Israel
As of publication, the Israeli military has issued no official statement regarding the operation. Regional media outlets have speculated on the raid’s objectives, but no confirmed details have emerged.
A Region on the Brink
The Bekaa Valley attack underscores the rapidly widening scope of the conflict, drawing Lebanon deeper into a confrontation that now spans multiple fronts. With casualties mounting and military operations intensifying, regional leaders and international observers warn that the situation risks spiraling into a broader war unless immediate de-escalation efforts take hold.
This report adheres to professional journalistic standards, presenting verified information from official agencies and credible regional sources.