Israel launched a significant airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh on Friday, marking the first such attack since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was brokered in November 2024. According to the Israeli military, the strike targeted a building allegedly used as a drone storage facility by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. The attack, which sent shockwaves across the Lebanese capital, resulted in a thick plume of black smoke rising into the sky. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) justified the airstrike as retaliation for multiple rocket attacks launched from Lebanon into northern Israel earlier in the week.
Prior to the strike, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for the neighborhood and carried out three smaller drone strikes as warning shots. Panic ensued as residents fled their homes, rushing to safety in vehicles and on foot. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire amid the chaos. In response to the escalating situation, Lebanese authorities swiftly ordered the closure of all schools and universities in the affected region, prioritizing civilian safety amid the heightened tensions.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire terms. He expressed these concerns during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who also criticized Israel’s actions, describing them as an unjustified escalation. Macron indicated that he planned to engage in further discussions with international leaders to de-escalate tensions and prevent further conflict in the region.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, denied involvement in the recent rocket attacks on Israel, insisting that the group was not responsible for launching the projectiles. The militant organization argued that the incident was being used as a pretext for Israel to resume military operations in Lebanon, further inflaming hostilities. The latest developments come at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, with fears growing that the fragile ceasefire could collapse, potentially plunging the region into another cycle of violence.
