Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon kills 12 ahead of planned U.S. talks

An Israeli airstrike on a village in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people overnight, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

The strike targeted an area in the Bekaa Valley late Monday as Israel intensified attacks against Hezbollah positions across southern and eastern Lebanon. The Israeli military did not comment directly on the reported deaths but said Monday it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon.

Rescue workers recovered a dozen bodies from the rubble following what Lebanese officials described as a wave of overnight airstrikes. The identities of those killed were not immediately released, and it was not clear whether the victims included civilians or Hezbollah fighters.

The escalation comes days before Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are expected to meet in Washington for direct talks aimed at reducing cross-border violence. The Lebanese government has expressed hope the talks could help secure a ceasefire, while Hezbollah has publicly opposed negotiations with Israel.

Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and communities in northern Israel, saying it will keep fighting until Israeli airstrikes stop and Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanese territory. The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities and humanitarian agencies.