In a significant escalation, Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, asserting that the target was a Hezbollah drone manufacturing facility. The strikes occurred on Thursday night, coinciding with the eve of Eid Al Adha, a major Islamic religious celebration. No immediate reports of injuries have emerged.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have located a Hezbollah unit producing ‘thousands’ of drones, allegedly financed by ‘Iranian terrorists.’ This military action came despite an ongoing six-month ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, expressed his strong condemnation of the strikes, branding them as a systematic assault on Lebanon’s security and stability, especially before a major holiday. Concurrently, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun characterized the strikes as a severe breach of international agreements.
According to the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the airstrikes spurred panic, marking a dreadful start to Eid Al-Adha. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the operation, attributing responsibility for upholding the ceasefire to the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah has yet to publicly comment on the attacks. Meanwhile, previous hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah had resulted in substantial casualties on both sides, with an alleged 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon, including civilians, during the earlier conflict from 2023-24.
Following the latest strikes, Lebanon’s military hinted at the possibility of suspending its cooperation regarding the ceasefire monitoring committee, underscoring the heightened tensions that continue to resonate in the region.
Source: www.bbc.com
