Israeli Airborne Raid Strikes Deep in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, At Least 16 Reported Dead

BEIRUT, March 7 (Reuters) — Israeli helicopters inserted troops deep into Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley overnight in a rare airborne raid, Lebanese state media and local residents reported Saturday. The operation, followed by intense Israeli bombardment, resulted in at least 16 Lebanese fatalities, according to the country's health ministry, marking a dangerous expansion of hostilities beyond the typical southern front.

The incursion near the town of Nabi Chit represents a tactical shift for the Israeli military, which has largely conducted ground operations along the southern border since cross-border clashes with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group intensified last October. Analysts view the deep-strike airborne raid as a signal of Israel's willingness to target Hezbollah logistics and command networks far from the immediate conflict zone.

"We heard the helicopters over our house all night—they were so low we thought they would land on us," said Shawki al-Masri, a resident of a town adjacent to Nabi Chit, who described the experience as "a night of hell." "People in the town woke up and started shooting at them, then the warplanes started bombing. It only calmed down at dawn."

Lebanese state media reported that the Israeli troops, after facing fire from residents and Hezbollah fighters, withdrew by helicopter as airstrikes pounded the area. Hezbollah claimed it engaged the troops, forcing their retreat. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

The Lebanese health ministry spokesperson told Reuters the death toll from the past 24 hours in Nabi Chit was expected to rise, encompassing victims from Friday's strikes and the overnight bombardment. Two security sources confirmed that three Lebanese soldiers were among the dead.

The conflict has already exacted a heavy toll, with more than 200 killed in Lebanon and approximately 300,000 displaced from border villages. Only a fraction of the displaced are housed in government shelters, straining local resources.

The United Nations issued a stark warning Saturday, stating the situation is poised to deteriorate further. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, emphasized that "ongoing military actions will not deliver a lasting win to anyone" and urged urgent diplomatic talks to prevent a wider war.

Voices from the Region

Reuters spoke to several observers for their reaction:

• David Cohen, Security Analyst at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for Regional Studies: "This operation is a clear message. It demonstrates Israel's capability and intent to strike Hezbollah assets anywhere in Lebanon, not just in response to rocket fire but proactively. The Bekaa Valley is a known stronghold."
• Layla Hassan, Journalist based in Beirut: "The human cost is becoming unbearable. With each escalation, more towns like Nabi Chit, which had felt relatively safer, are dragged into the violence. The international community's calls for de-escalation are falling on deaf ears."
• Professor Elias Ghorayeb, Political Science, American University of Beirut: "These actions risk triggering a tit-for-tat cycle that could erase the unofficial 'rules of engagement' that have so far prevented all-out war. The calculus on both sides is being tested."
• Mark Russo, Former Diplomat (via social media commentary): "Enough. This is a reckless provocation that brings a regional inferno closer. Bombing your way to security is a fantasy. Every civilian death in Lebanon creates a dozen new grievances. When will the cycle stop?"

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Additional background and analysis by Reuters staff; Editing by Mark Potter)