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Deadly Airstrike Hits Beirut Suburbs, Raising Ceasefire Concerns
A recent Israeli airstrike targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut resulted in the deaths of four individuals, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. This development further strains the tenuous ceasefire currently in place between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The attack has intensified concerns about escalating tensions in the region.
Casualties Reported in Dahieh District
The health ministry further reported that the airstrike also wounded seven people. The incident marks the second such attack on the Dahieh area, a stronghold of Hezbollah, in recent days. These strikes occur despite the cessation of hostilities that commenced in November, prompting questions about the durability of the current truce.
IDF Claims Strike Targeted Hezbollah Operative
The Israeli military issued a statement asserting that the operation targeted a Hezbollah operative allegedly involved in assisting Hamas with planning attacks against Israeli civilians. As of now, Hezbollah has not issued any official response to these claims.
Lebanese Leadership Condemns the Action
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has strongly condemned the strike, characterizing it as a perilous escalation. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed this sentiment, denouncing the airstrike as a “blatant violation” of the existing ceasefire agreement.
Details of the Nighttime Attack
The airstrike occurred during the night, reportedly without any prior warning. Visual evidence from the scene indicates significant damage to the upper floors of a residential building.
Military Statements on the Operation
In a joint statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) confirmed that they conducted a strike in Dahieh.
The Israeli military identified the individual targeted as Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir, a Hezbollah operative. They claim Bdeir was “recently directing Hamas operatives and assisting them in plotting a substantial and imminent terror attack aimed at Israeli civilians.”
The IDF statement emphasized that “due to the immediate threat” posed by Bdeir, the military took action to “neutralize him and eliminate the threat.”
Furthermore, the Israeli military stated that Hezbollah’s activities represent “a breach of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.” They affirmed their commitment to “continue operations to avert any threat posed to the citizens of the State of Israel.”
Casualty Breakdown
Lebanon’s health ministry clarified that among the four fatalities, one was a woman.
Recent Escalation Follows Previous Attack
This recent incident follows a prior Israeli attack last Friday, which was the first on Beirut since the ceasefire took effect. That earlier attack concluded over a year of intermittent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli military, the previous strike targeted a Hezbollah drone storage facility, following rocket fire from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel.
Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket launch and reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire. No other group claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
Ceasefire Violations and Ongoing Tensions
Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel has continued to conduct almost daily airstrikes targeting individuals and locations it links to Hezbollah. Israel justifies these actions as necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rearming. However, the Lebanese government maintains that these ongoing strikes, along with the continued presence of Israeli soldiers in parts of southern Lebanon, constitute clear breaches of the truce.
Background of the Conflict
Hezbollah initiated its campaign of action the day after the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah stated its actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This long-standing dispute escalated into a significant Israeli air campaign across Lebanon, accompanied by a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
The ensuing conflict resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths in Lebanon, a significant number of whom were civilians. It also led to the displacement of over 1.2 million Lebanese residents.
Israel’s stated objective in its actions against Hezbollah is to facilitate the return of approximately 60,000 residents displaced from northern Israeli communities due to Hezbollah’s attacks, and to remove the group from areas adjacent to the border.