Israeli strikes hit eastern Lebanon as tolls rise and Israel calls up more troops
Israeli air attacks struck the eastern Lebanese village of Mashghara in the Bekaa Valley late on May 25, killing at least 12 people, as Israel intensified operations across Lebanon and announced additional troop call-ups for the northern front, according to reporting from CBC News, Al Jazeera English, and The Hindu. Lebanon’s Health Ministry described the Mashghara figure as a preliminary toll, while other reports put the death count at 11, underscoring how casualty numbers were still being updated in the hours after the strikes.
Background and context
The Mashghara attack occurred amid a widening Israeli campaign that multiple outlets described as escalating both in southern Lebanon and deeper into the country, including the Bekaa region. Le Monde, in a live update, reported that Lebanon’s Health Ministry gave a preliminary toll of “au moins 11 morts” (at least 11 dead) from the bombing of Machghara (Mashghara).
Separately, Lebanon’s Health Ministry has reported sharply rising cumulative casualties since the start of the latest escalation. TASS cited the ministry saying the death toll reached 3,213 with 9,737 wounded. Middle East Eye also reported Lebanon’s figure of more than 3,200 killed since March, reflecting the same ministry-sourced totals.
Key developments: Mashghara and wider strikes
Mashghara strike (Bekaa Valley):
CBC News, Al Jazeera, and The Hindu reported the strike hit Mashghara late May 25 and killed 12. Le Monde cited a preliminary count of 11 deaths from the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The discrepancy appears tied to the timing of updates and whether victims later died of wounds; all outlets cited Lebanese official health sources or local reporting as figures evolved.Additional troop call-ups:
CBC News and The Hindu reported Israel called up more troops for Lebanon, framing the move as part of a broader intensification of military activity.Strikes in the south and across multiple towns:
On May 26–27, Lebanon reported 31 killed in Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah-related sites, according to The Times of Israel. Al Jazeera likewise reported at least 31 deaths in attacks across southern Lebanon and said Israel issued forced displacement orders for additional towns and villages as operations expanded.
TASS also reported over 30 killed in attacks in the south and east, citing Lebanon’s ministry.Scale of the campaign:
Middle East Eye reported the Israeli army claimed it struck 150 sites in one day, and published multiple updates describing strikes hitting multiple towns across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa.
Implications and reactions cited by outlets
Several sources highlighted allegations about weapons use and the intensity of bombardment. Middle East Eye reported claims that Israel dropped white phosphorus in Lebanon, citing local reporting. (No confirmation of those claims was reported across all outlets listed.)
The Times of Israel characterized the strikes as targeting Hezbollah positions, while Lebanese official casualty figures cited by TASS and Middle East Eye emphasized the human toll and cumulative death and injury counts.
Current status
As of May 27, reporting across outlets pointed to continuing Israeli strikes in both southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, with casualty figures still being revised by Lebanese authorities. The situation remained fluid, with Israel describing operations as directed at Hezbollah-linked targets and Lebanese health officials continuing to publish rising casualty totals from the expanding campaign.