Israel Strikes Beirut After Hezbollah Attacks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ordered the military to strike targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area widely regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the operation was launched in response to repeated Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire and attacks on Israeli towns and civilians. Israel described the targeted sites as terrorist infrastructure.

Despite a ceasefire reached in mid-April, clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah have continued. Israeli officials say the Lebanese group has increasingly relied on inexpensive suicide drones, which are difficult to intercept and have killed several Israeli soldiers.

The fighting in Lebanon has become one of the most significant spillovers from the broader conflict involving Iran.

According to the Lebanese government, Israeli strikes and evacuation orders have displaced more than 1.2 million people. Lebanese authorities say more than 3,370 people have been killed since the fighting escalated.

Israel has reported 24 soldiers and four civilians killed. At the same time, Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks have forced tens of thousands of residents in northern Israel to leave their homes.

(reuters, bak)