For the first time since a ceasefire was agreed in November to end the Israel-Hezbollah war, Israel has bombed Beirut.
Huge smoke plumes rose from the site of the attack in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh and residents reported hearing the explosion from the mountains surrounding the Lebanese capital.
The strike threatens to upset the fragile truce in place between Hezbollah and Israel since a ceasefire was signed on November 27 last year.
The ceasefire brought an end to more than 13 months of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, which killed more than 3,900 people and displaced about 1 million in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has stressed his commitment to the ceasefire deal and reiterated that the decision for Lebanon to go to war lay with the state, not with Hezbollah.
Before the bombing, Israeli’s military issued an evacuation order and warned it would attack a building in Dahiyeh.
A spokesperson posted a map on X, with a building marked in red and warned residents to flee more than 300 metres away, reminiscent of the daily maps the Israeli military would issue before bombings during its war with Hezbollah.
The spokesperson warned, “You are present near facilities belonging to Hezbollah,” pointing to a building near two schools in Dahiyeh.
The warning was followed by two “roof knocking” drone strikes.
The warning caused residents of Dahiyeh to flee, with people shooting in the air to warn those who had not seen the announcement on social media.
Earlier in the morning, Israel announced it had intercepted two rockets coming from Lebanon, the second time in a week that rocket fire was directed towards it.
No one claimed responsibility for Friday’s rocket fire, and Hezbollah issued no statement.
Israel conducted several airstrikes in southern Lebanon before the evacuation warning in Beirut on Friday. Lebanon announced the closure of schools in the south in fear of further strikes.
The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said, “If calm does not prevail in the Galilee towns, there will be no calm in Beirut … We will not allow a return to the situation before October 7.”
It is unclear how Hezbollah will respond to a strike on Dahiyeh, where the group enjoys large public support.
Hezbollah claims its role is to protect Lebanon from the Israeli military, so a strike near the country’s capital could form a challenge to the basis of its legitimacy.
Ceasefire Violation
The Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun said that Israel’s attacks on Beirut are a “continuation of Israel’s violation of the agreement sponsored by France and the United States.”
In a statement on X, Aoun said that the international community must put an end to these attacks and force Israel to abide by the agreement, just as Lebanon is committed to it.
Also, French President, Emmanuel Macron said that Israeli attacks on Beirut were “unacceptable” and a violation of the ceasefire and that such attacks “play into the hands of Hezbollah.”
Speaking alongside Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, Macron added, “That’s why France will continue to stand by you to ensure and maintain your sovereignty and security.”
The two leaders met at the Elysee palace in Paris to discuss economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the country as a fragile truce with Israel increasingly comes under pressure.
“We also would like to reiterate that there should be no unilateral actions by Hezbollah to violate the ceasefire.
“The parties must honour and respect their obligations in order not to undermine the achievements made, and the Israeli forces must pull out from the five points [they occupy] in the south of Lebanon and residents must be allowed to return to their homes.”
Emmanuel Macron
Macron said that the Lebanese army had been deployed throughout most of southern Lebanon and had ensured there was no Hezbollah presence there.
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