Lebanese officials have denounced Israeli assaults on Beirut from overnight, characterizing them as “flagrant” breaches of the ceasefire between the two nations.
In response, Israel has stated that it will continue its strikes on Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
At least ten strikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, a vast region known as Dahiyeh, starting about 90 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation notices for four locations in the vicinity.
This marks the fourth instance of Dahiyeh being bombed since a truce arranged by the US in November ended a lengthy conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the attack as a “flagrant violation of an international accord… on the eve of a sacred religious festival.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz asserted that “there will be no quiet in Beirut, and no order or stability in Lebanon, without security for the State of Israel.”
“Agreements must be honored, and if the necessary actions are not taken, we will continue to operate, and with great force,” Mr. Katz stated.
Under the ceasefire negotiated by the United States and France, Lebanon pledged to disarm Hezbollah, which was previously regarded as being better armed than the state itself.
Lebanese civil defense members and firefighters are seen extinguishing a fire resulting from an overnight Israeli airstrike.
Israel’s military has persistently targeted southern Lebanon, and Israeli forces still occupy five strategic hilltop positions in the region.
Since the truce was established, Israel has bombed Beirut’s suburbs three times, primarily in reaction to rocket fire from Lebanon.
Hezbollah has denied its involvement in these rocket launches.
The most recent conflict between the long-standing adversaries, Israel and Hezbollah, ignited in October 2023 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli military installations in support of its Palestinian ally, Hamas.
Following that, Israel escalated tensions in the subsequent year through a significant bombing campaign that resulted in thousands of fatalities.
The then-Hamas secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli strike in September of the previous year.
Although Israel has conducted frequent airstrikes in southern Lebanon since the truce, attacks directed at Beirut’s southern suburbs have been infrequent.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut overnight.
Lebanese leaders have condemned the attacks.
As part of the truce, Hezbollah fighters were supposed to withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure located south of this point.
Israel was to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon but has retained a presence in five areas it considers “strategic.”
The Lebanese army has been active in the south, dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reporting the removal of “more than 500 military positions and arms depots” in the area.
Following the airstrikes, Lebanon’s leaders accused Israel of a “flagrant” violation of the ceasefire by conducting strikes ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations.
President Joseph Aoun voiced “strong condemnation of the Israeli aggression” and labeled it a “flagrant violation of an international accord… on the eve of a sacred religious festival.”
The Prime Minister also issued a statement denouncing the attacks as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
One resident from southern Beirut recounted fleeing her home with her children after receiving a troubling warning before the strikes.
“I got a phone call from a stranger claiming to be from the Israeli army,” said the woman, Violette, who opted not to share her last name.
Israel also issued an evacuation alert for the Lebanese village of Ain Qana, located around 20 kilometers from the border.
Subsequently, the Israeli military targeted a building there, alleging it was a Hezbollah base, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
