Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut on Friday after rockets targeted its territory, further straining the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon. The attack put an end to over a year of relative calm between Israel and Hizbollah.
International reactions and ceasefire concerns
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the strike “a dangerous escalation.” French President Emmanuel Macron said it breached the ceasefire agreement.
This was the second time rockets from Lebanon had targeted Israel since the November ceasefire. The first attack occurred last Saturday. On both occasions, Iran-backed Hizbollah denied involvement.
After the latest attack, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned: “If there is no quiet in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee communities, there will be no quiet in Beirut either.”
Targeted strikes and evacuations
Israel has continued airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon since the ceasefire. It claims to target Hizbollah military sites violating the agreement. However, Friday’s strike was the first in Beirut’s southern suburbs since the truce began. Before the attack, the Israeli military urged residents near the targeted building to evacuate, stating they were close to “Hizbollah facilities.”
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted “a site used to store UAVs by Hizbollah’s Aerial Unit (127) in the Dahieh area,” a key Hizbollah stronghold. Israel bombed this area heavily during last year’s conflict.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, speaking in Paris with President Macron, said an investigation was necessary. He suggested that “all signs indicate Hizbollah was not responsible” for the rocket fire.
An AFP photographer at the scene reported that the attack completely destroyed the targeted building. Thick black smoke rose from the site, and fires burned in the rubble.
Israel’s warning caused widespread concern in the densely populated area. AFP correspondents reported heavy traffic as residents attempted to flee.
“We’re very afraid the war will return,” said Mohammed, a 55-year-old taxi driver, as he rushed to collect his daughter from school.
Further military actions and Hizbollah’s response
Israel’s military reported that two rockets were launched towards its territory. One was intercepted, while the other landed inside Lebanon. It later confirmed strikes on “Hizbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon.”
Hizbollah denied involvement in the latest rocket attack and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.
