Israel executed an air strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday, targeting what it identified as a storage facility for "precision-guided missiles" linked to the Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah. This strike followed an evacuation order issued by Israel for the residents of a building in the Hadath neighborhood, suggesting precautionary measures ahead of the offensive.
The airstrike comes at a time when a ceasefire had been in place for five months, aimed at preventing conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese presidency promptly condemned the attack, urging the United States and France—who were instrumental in negotiating the ceasefire—to intervene and halt further Israeli aggression.
This incident marks Israel's first aerial attack on the Dahieh area in nearly a month, despite daily operations it has conducted citing threats from Hezbollah. While Israel maintains its stance on responding to perceived threats, Western officials indicate Hezbollah has mostly adhered to the truce, while accusing Israel of ongoing violations.
Live footage captured by Reuters displayed a substantial column of smoke ascending from the site shortly after the airstrike, and Lebanon's Civil Defence reported that no casualties occurred as emergency services were able to contain the fire.
In a reaction shared on social media, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that the ongoing Israeli strikes jeopardize regional stability and urged international actors to hold Israel accountable. Israel's military justified the attack, characterizing the presence of Hezbollah’s munitions in the area as a direct risk to national security.
This new airstrike has generated significant concern among residents, with fears of escalating violence resurfacing, just as the UN's Special Coordinator for Lebanon cautioned all parties against further actions that could destabilize the truce. Earlier in the month, an Israeli strike in the same region resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a high-ranking Hezbollah member, exacerbating tensions and uncertainty in Beirut.
The airstrike comes at a time when a ceasefire had been in place for five months, aimed at preventing conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese presidency promptly condemned the attack, urging the United States and France—who were instrumental in negotiating the ceasefire—to intervene and halt further Israeli aggression.
This incident marks Israel's first aerial attack on the Dahieh area in nearly a month, despite daily operations it has conducted citing threats from Hezbollah. While Israel maintains its stance on responding to perceived threats, Western officials indicate Hezbollah has mostly adhered to the truce, while accusing Israel of ongoing violations.
Live footage captured by Reuters displayed a substantial column of smoke ascending from the site shortly after the airstrike, and Lebanon's Civil Defence reported that no casualties occurred as emergency services were able to contain the fire.
In a reaction shared on social media, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that the ongoing Israeli strikes jeopardize regional stability and urged international actors to hold Israel accountable. Israel's military justified the attack, characterizing the presence of Hezbollah’s munitions in the area as a direct risk to national security.
This new airstrike has generated significant concern among residents, with fears of escalating violence resurfacing, just as the UN's Special Coordinator for Lebanon cautioned all parties against further actions that could destabilize the truce. Earlier in the month, an Israeli strike in the same region resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including a high-ranking Hezbollah member, exacerbating tensions and uncertainty in Beirut.
