Israel has conducted an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, marking the first such action since the ceasefire with Hezbollah was established in November 2024. The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a truck and a facility associated with Hezbollah’s Unit 127, which is believed to store drones. This operation followed the interception of a rocket fired from Lebanon into northern Israel earlier in the day, an attack for which no group has claimed responsibility.
Hezbollah has denied involvement in the rocket attack and accused Israel of seeking a pretext to continue its assault on Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have reiterated Israel’s commitment to act against threats from Lebanon and enforce peace.
The airstrike has raised concerns about the stability of the fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States and France, which had temporarily halted over a year of hostilities resulting in significant casualties and displacement. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for identifying those responsible for actions that threaten Lebanon’s stability.
International reactions have been swift. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israel’s airstrike, deeming it unjustified and noting there was no activity to warrant such an attack. He emphasized that the agreed framework between Lebanon and Israel was not honored by Israel in this instance and announced plans to discuss the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to restore adherence to the ceasefire agreement.
The situation remains tense as both nations navigate the complexities of maintaining peace amidst ongoing accusations and military actions.
