BEIRUT: In a significant escalation of tensions, a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted Lebanon's northern Bekaa region, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuries to 19 others. The airstrikes, which hit several locations including the Riyaq-Baalbek highway and the Al-Yamouneh area, have raised concerns about the protection of civilians and the stability of the region. According to Jordan News Agency, a Lebanese security source reported that three civilians were killed by an Israeli warplane's attack on a building along the Riyaq-Baalbek highway. Additionally, four members of the Lebanese army sustained injuries while traveling in a military vehicle near the strike site. The source further detailed that another strike on the Al-Yamouneh area resulted in two civilian deaths and 15 injuries, emphasizing the ongoing danger to life and escalating humanitarian concerns. The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, issued a statement highlighting the critical need to protect civilians, particularly in light of the recent attacks that also targeted the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, killing six people, including the city's mayor. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in an interview with AFP, underscored the government's readiness to reinforce army presence in southern Lebanon, contingent on the achievement of a ceasefire. Mikati revealed plans to increase the military personnel in the region from 4,500 to potentially up to 11,000 soldiers. He also mentioned ongoing international efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire, including a proposed resolution to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities. This recent violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire agreements and highlights the broader regional implications of continued military actions. The international community, along with local governments, remains engaged in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, advocating for the safety and security of all civilians involved.