Israel Strikes Southern Beirut for First Time Since November

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By Staff Writer with Agencies

Middle East – Tensions in the region escalated as Israel launched airstrikes on southern Beirut, targeting a Hezbollah drone storage facility, according to the Israeli military. This marks the first Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital since November, further straining the fragile ceasefire.

In response to the attack, Hezbollah announced the cancellation of its annual Al-Quds Day celebrations, citing the “Zionist aggression in the southern suburbs.”

Ceasefire Under Threat

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had already been shaken last week after Israel retaliated against an attempted cross-border attack by the militant group. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the strikes, urging France and the United States to pressure Israel into adhering to the ceasefire agreement.

“The threats are a continuation of Israel’s violation of the agreement sponsored by France and the United States,” read a statement from Lebanon’s presidential office on social media platform X. “The international community must stop these attacks and force Israel to abide by the agreement, just as Lebanon remains committed to it.”

President Aoun was in a diplomatic meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and officials from Greece and Cyprus when the airstrikes occurred. Macron later addressed the media, calling Israel’s actions “unacceptable” and a direct breach of the ceasefire. He vowed to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate the situation.

“At this moment, nothing justifies Israel’s current attacks,” Macron stated.

Israel Defends Military Actions

In response to international criticism, Israel’s Defense Minister issued a firm warning to Lebanon’s government:

“I am sending a clear message to the Lebanese authorities: if you do not enforce the ceasefire agreement, we will enforce it ourselves.”

Netanyahu also defended the strikes, asserting that Israel would continue targeting any Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon to neutralize threats and enforce a ceasefire on its terms.

U.S. Announces New Sanctions on Hezbollah

Shortly after the attack, the U.S. Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions against Hezbollah, targeting five individuals and three entities linked to the group. The sanctions are part of ongoing efforts by Washington to weaken Hezbollah’s financial networks and curb its military operations.

With tensions mounting, diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify in the coming days as world leaders attempt to prevent further escalation in the volatile Middle East region.