On Friday, Israel executed an unprecedented attack on the capital of Lebanon, a first since the ceasefire concluded the most recent Israel-Hezbollah war in November. This escalation has raised significant concerns regarding regional stability.
Reports from Associated Press in Beirut indicated that a loud explosion was heard, with plumes of smoke observed rising from southern suburbs that Israel’s military had targeted.
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This incident marks Israel’s first strike in Beirut since the ceasefire was implemented last November, although Israeli forces have conducted almost daily strikes on targets in southern Lebanon since then.
According to Israel’s army, the operation targeted a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, identified as a militant stronghold. This action followed warnings from Israel for civilians to evacuate the area, as it accused Hezbollah of endangering lives by using human shields.
The targeted zone is a densely populated residential and commercial area, positioned near at least two schools.
Israeli authorities stated that the attack was a response to rockets allegedly launched from Lebanon into northern Israel. They warned that operations against Beirut would persist unless Lebanon’s government took measures to prevent further assaults.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted, “We will not allow any attacks on our communities, no matter how small. We will take action throughout Lebanon against any threat to the State of Israel.”
In contrast, Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket attacks and accused Israel of fabricating justifications for its ongoing military actions against Lebanon.
In response to the heightened tensions, Lebanon’s government ordered the closure of all schools and universities in the southern suburb of Hadath for the day. Many residents were observed fleeing the area in vehicles and on foot in anticipation of the strike.
Hezbollah’s military activities resumed with rocket launches, drones, and missiles directed at Israel following the October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel by Hamas, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The violence has resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities in Israel and the abduction of 251 individuals.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated into full-scale war last September when Israel conducted extensive airstrikes, eliminating many senior leaders of the militant group. This violence has claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon and displaced around 60,000 Israelis.
According to the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from all Lebanese territories by late January, a deadline later extended to February 18. However, Israel has continued its presence in five border locations while executing numerous strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern and eastern Lebanon. Just last week, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of six individuals in Lebanon.
Speaking from Paris, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun described the strike in Beirut as a continuation of “Israel’s violations of the agreement” facilitated by France and the U.S.
During a joint press conference with Aoun, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as “unacceptable” and committed to discussing the matter with Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the potential for U.S. pressure on Israel.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department urged Lebanon’s government to take action.
“Israel is defending its citizens and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon,” stated U.S. spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. “We expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to halt further hostilities.”
The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, remarked that the escalation has created “a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region.”
Israeli strikes in other regions of Lebanon on Friday resulted in three fatalities and injuries to 18, including women and children, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.
This escalation follows less than two weeks after Israel concluded its ceasefire with Hamas, initiating surprise strikes that killed hundreds in Gaza. Earlier this month, Israel ceased the delivery of food, fuel, medicine, and humanitarian assistance to approximately 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has vowed to intensify its military actions until Hamas returns 59 hostages it is believed to be holding, 24 of whom are thought to be alive. Israel demands that Hamas relinquish power, disarm, and exile its leadership.
Hamas has stated that it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s offensive in the Strip has resulted in over 50,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries, although the ministry does not specify how many of these are civilians or combatants.
As of Friday, nearly 900 deaths have been reported in Gaza since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March, including more than 40 fatalities in the past 24 hours.
