In the early hours of Tuesday, April 1, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals and injuring seven others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The airstrike struck a building in the Dahiyeh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold. The Israeli military stated that the operation targeted a Hezbollah militant allegedly involved in coordinating activities with operatives from Hamas. This action marks a significant escalation, as it is the second such strike in the area within a week, threatening the fragile four-month ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strike, labeling it a violation of United Nations Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. They urged the international community to intervene and prevent further breaches of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The strike caused significant damage to the targeted building, with emergency services responding to rescue and provide aid to the victims. Residents in the vicinity reported hearing loud explosions and witnessing the destruction firsthand.
This attack follows a similar airstrike in the same vicinity just days earlier, marking a significant escalation after a four-month ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceasefire had been in place since November, aiming to halt hostilities that had previously resulted in substantial casualties and displacement.
The United States has expressed support for Israel’s actions, attributing the resumption of hostilities to terrorist-led rocket attacks from Lebanon. Conversely, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the Israeli strikes as unjustified, stating that there was no activity to warrant such an attack and emphasizing the need to adhere to the ceasefire agreement.
The recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs has heightened tensions in the Middle East, posing a significant threat to the existing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Also read: Israel strikes Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire
