Israel Strikes Beirut in First Attack Since Ceasefire with Hezbollah

Israel carried out its first airstrike on Beirut since the ceasefire with Hezbollah was established in November, intensifying the already fragile peace agreement.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel conducted an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting a drone storage facility linked to Hezbollah. This marked the first such attack since a ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed group took effect in November after over a year of active conflict. The Israeli military justified the strike as a response to an earlier rocket attack from southern Lebanon, which resulted in one interception and another that failed to reach Israeli territory.

Following the strike, panic swept through the Hadath area as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued evacuation warnings. Schools were evacuated amid fears of further military action. The IDF described the rocket attack as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreements, indicating that Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the terms.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, currently in Paris for diplomatic meetings, condemned the Israeli strike, describing it as a violation of agreements mediated by France and the U.S. He emphasized the need for the international community to intervene and compel Israel to adhere to the ceasefire terms, criticizing the ongoing encroachments into Lebanese territory.

The undeterred behavior on both sides raises questions about the durability of the ceasefire, designed to bring an end to years of violence characterized by airstrikes, ground invasions, and considerable civilian casualties. Hezbollah has consistently denied involvement in the recent rocket fire, asserting its dedication to maintaining the truce.

The airstrike follows a series of tensions marked by rocket launches aimed at Israel and Israeli military responses in Lebanese territory. This series of hostilities highlights the difficulties faced by Lebanese authorities attempting to assert control in areas dominated by militant factions, particularly Hezbollah.

Should this latest incident provoke further rounds of retaliation, the prospects for peace in the region, which had briefly materialized under the November ceasefire, may once again be under threat.