The Israeli military struck a location in Beirut, Lebanon, which is recognized as a Hezbollah enclave. This marks the first such attack in this region since a ceasefire halted over twelve months of conflict with Hezbollah.
Israel conducted an attack on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, for the first time since the
ceasefire
That concluded the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November.
On Friday, an assault occurred targeting a structure within Beirut’s southern suburbs. This incident came as retaliation for rocket attacks launched by its northern counterpart, according to statements made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF said it wanted to destroy a drone storage facility belonging to the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
The Lebanese National News Agency verified, “Israeli fighter jets attacked the Hadath area in Beirut’s southern outskirts.”
On Friday, as stated by the Israeli military, Israel launched attacks on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon.
Macron states that strikes on Beirut breach the ceasefire conditions
During his visit to Paris with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the attack on Beirut was “unacceptable” and warned that such strikes only benefit groups like Hezbollah.
France is part of the committee responsible for monitoring the truce.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the Lebanese government holds direct accountability for the assault and cautioned, “Should tranquility not return to Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee communities, peace shall also elude Beirut.”
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, expressed deep concern about the cross-border shelling along the south border on Friday.
Hezbollah refutes involvement in attacks on Israel.
Hezbollah refuted any participation in the rocket assault on Israel that occurred on Friday and another incident from Saturday.
The organization stated that it continued to uphold the ceasefire accord made with Israel last November.
The truce was meant to halt several months of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
The armed organization commenced assaults on Israel using rockets and artillery one day following the Hamas terrorist incidents on October 7, 2023.
It spiraled into full-scale conflict, as Israel launched a massive aerial assault on Beirut coupled with infantry deployments.
As part of the truce agreement, the Lebanese army plans to station extra troops in the southern region, whereas Hezbollah will withdraw its combatants and armaments.
The ceasefire also resulted in
partial Israeli withdrawal
from the south.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
Author: Louis Oelofse (with contributions from AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
