Escalating Tensions: Israeli Airstrike Targets Hezbollah in Southern Beirut
An Israeli fighter jet struck a target in the Hadath neighborhood of southern Beirut this Sunday, following evacuation warnings issued by Israeli authorities and two preliminary drone bombings. Sources cited by Israeli Army Radio indicate that the Israel Air Force launched at least three missiles at what was identified as a weapons storage facility belonging to the Shiite militia Hezbollah.
The Israeli Defense Forces reported the attack on a site in the Dahiya area of Beirut, claiming that a significant infrastructure used for storing precision missiles belonging to Hezbollah had been destroyed. The military's statement described this missile storage as a gross violation of agreements between Israel and Lebanon, characterizing it as a direct threat to Israel and its citizens. Furthermore, the statement criticized Hezbollah for allegedly using the presence of missiles within civilian areas as a means to exploit Lebanese citizens as human shields.
The targeted building was reportedly a warehouse utilized during the Shiite festival of Ashura, which has now been destroyed, according to the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour. Witnesses reported that a loud explosion resonated throughout the area, accompanied by firing detonations, potentially from anti-aircraft weapons.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned the attack, highlighting its violation of the ceasefire established in November. The Lebanese Presidency's account on X stated, "The United States and France, as guarantors of the ceasefire agreement, must assume responsibility and compel Israel to halt its attacks immediately. Israel's ongoing actions undermine stability and pose significant risks to regional security."
The Lebanese Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, also condemned the airstrike, stating that it instills fear in the population, who are eager to return to a state of normalcy. Salam called upon the countries that guarantee the ceasefire agreement to expedite the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
Earlier, the Israeli Army had alerted residents in southern Beirut to evacuate immediately from proximity to three buildings within Hadath that are known Hezbollah strongholds. Colonel Avichai Adraee, the Arabic spokesperson for the Israeli Army, shared an accompanying map on social media, indicating these structures while advising residents to maintain a safe distance of at least 300 meters for their protection.
Since the ceasefire established on November 27, Israel and Hezbollah have remained in a fragile truce. Although the Israeli Army has largely concentrated its firepower on southern Lebanon, bombings had notably diminished since the ceasefire agreement. Reports from Lebanese media indicate that at least 149 people have died since this truce, with civilians making up 71 of those casualties.
As regional tensions flare once again, the implications of this latest attack may ripple through an already volatile landscape, as both Israel and Hezbollah approach a sensitive historical moment with the potential for further conflict.
Related Sources: