Israel Alerts of Continued Instability in Beirut
The ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanon escalate as Israel asserts its commitment to ensuring security in the region.
“Agreements must be respected, and if the necessary actions are not taken, we will proceed with force,” Katz declared in a recent statement.
A series of Israeli strikes were conducted on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday night, leading to widespread displacement of residents just before the Eid al-Adha holiday after a compulsory evacuation notice was issued. Israel announced that its attack targeted Hezbollah’s “drone factories,” though no evidence was provided.
The Israeli military contends that Hezbollah is ramping up the production of drones in breach of the ceasefire agreement from November.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported about a dozen strikes carried out by Israeli fighter jets, resulting in the destruction of nine buildings and damage to dozens more. Hezbollah dismissed claims of drone production facilities at the targeted sites.
Thursday’s attack was the largest since the cessation of hostilities in late November, marking the fourth significant strike on Beirut’s southern district, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
Infringement of International Accords
Since the ceasefire in November, Israel has reportedly breached the agreement nearly daily, as stated by the Lebanese government, Arab nations, and human rights groups. President Joseph Aoun has called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the ceasefire, to curb Israel’s aggressive actions.
Aoun voiced his strong condemnation of the Israeli aggression, labeling it a violation of an international agreement on the eve of a significant religious occasion.
Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah lawmaker, urged Lebanese political forces to go beyond condemnations and take action, including applying diplomatic pressure.
These ongoing strikes have resulted in at least 190 casualties and nearly 500 injuries, according to Lebanon’s government.
Under the ceasefire terms, the Lebanese military is responsible for disarming Hezbollah. However, they have expressed concern that Israeli actions are undermining their role. The military warned that continued strikes could lead them to halt cooperation with the monitoring committee, impacting efforts to disarm Hezbollah near the Israeli border.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in October 2023, following Israel’s invasion of Gaza, with Hezbollah launching attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas. The violence resulted in over 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon and several hundred in Israel before the ceasefire was brokered.
