Israel Bombs Beirut for the First Time Since Cease-Fire Commenced
The Israeli air strike on a Hezbollah stronghold signifies a heightened level of attacks by Israel against the terrorist group near its border.
On Friday, Israel carried out an air strike on Beirut, marking its first attack in the Lebanese capital since the November cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah.
The Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah drone storage site in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
The strike was in response to rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel earlier that morning, which violated the agreements between the two countries.
Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they also targeted Hezbollah command centers, terrorist infrastructure sites, launchers, and militants in southern Lebanon on March 21.
The IDF vowed to continue its operations to protect Israeli civilians from any threats.
Despite Hezbollah denying responsibility for the rocket launches, Israel continued its offensive, prompting chaos in the area as Lebanese residents attempted to evacuate following the air strike.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israel’s actions and expressed his intention to discuss the situation with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following previous escalations in the region, including Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel, and Israel’s subsequent strikes on Gaza, tensions remain high along the border.
Israel launched a ground offensive in September 2024, and a cease-fire agreement in November 2024 outlined specific withdrawals and restrictions for both sides.
Israeli leaders have reiterated their stance on preventing Hezbollah from operating in close proximity to the Israeli border, emphasizing the need to uphold security measures in the region.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
