Israeli jets strike the southern suburbs of Beirut for the third time since the ceasefire began
The Israeli Jets attacked the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday after a warning about an hour ago, the third Israeli strike in the region since it came into effect in late November.
In a statement following the strike, the Israeli military said it targeted the radical Hezbollah group's precisely guided missile storage facility. It added that storing such devices violated the agreement reached to end the Israeli-Hebra war.
According to an Associated Press photographer on the ground, a large amount of smoke rolled in the area after the strike and hit a metal tent between two buildings. The photographer saw two trucks burned and destroyed in the hangar. No immediate reports of casualties.
In the warning, the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah facilities in the Hadas area and urged residents to move at least 300 meters from the scene before the strike. Two warning strikes followed.
The strike near the community was followed by a fighter jet in parts of the Lebanese capital, where gunfire was shot and warned residents and urged them to evacuate as families were panicked.
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In the last Israel-Herra War, Israeli drones and fighters frequently blew up the southern suburbs, and Hezbollah had wide influence and support. Israel believes that several of Hezbollah's top leaders, including Chief Hassan Nasrallah, were assassinated in the region, and blamed the storage of weapons there.
President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, calling on the United States and France to “take their responsibility” as a guarantee of the ceasefire and put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks. He warned that Israel's continued actions “destabilize” and risked the region being subjected to serious security threats.
The UN Lebanon Jeanine Hennis Special Coordinator posted on X released the latest Israeli strike on X “Among those who are desperate to return to normal, panic and fear of re-violence.” She urged the parties to stop any action that could further undermine the understanding of the ceasefire and implement a resolution to end the war.
Sunday's strike was two attacks on the southern suburbs of the capital, following the first attack on March 28, with Israel also issued a warning, the second time on April 1, when an unannounced strike killed four people, including Hezbollah officials.
Leaders of Lebanon's Hezbollah group Sheikh Naim Kassem recently warned that if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue, the group will eventually resort to alternative options if the Lebanese government does not take action to stop them.
Kasem also said that as long as Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon, Israeli fighter jets will not be disarmed, and the Israeli Air Force often violates Lebanese airspace.
Under a ceasefire from the US agent who ended the 14-month Israeli Herzbola War, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from all Lebanese territory in late January, while Hezbollah must end armed forces south of the Litani River along the border with Israel.
Earlier on Sunday, a drone strike killed a man in the village of Holta in southern Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Health. The Israeli military said in an article X, including the strike footage, that it targeted Hezbollah members: “He is working to rebuild Hezbollah's terror capabilities in the region.”
Last week, the Lebanese government said 190 people were killed on the Israeli strike and 485 were injured in Lebanon since the ceasefire of US brokers came into effect. Israel said it targets Hezbollah officials and infrastructure.
Lebanese troops are gradually deployed in the southern part of the country, and Beirut urges the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop the attack and withdraw its forces on the tops of five hills in Lebanese territory.
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