Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday, marking the first attack since the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah last month. The target was reported to be a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the southern suburbs of the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation in a joint statement. While Israeli media claimed the commander was killed, there was no immediate verification from either the Israeli military or Hezbollah.
The ceasefire in Lebanon has been instrumental in a broader truce between the U.S. and Iran, with a cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon being a key demand from Iran. However, recent Israeli strikes jeopardize the ceasefire that had halted Israeli attacks on Beirut, as Israeli troops remain positioned south of the Litani River and continue strikes in southern Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah, a strong ally of Iran, has retaliated by launching armed drones at Israeli soldiers.
Israel had earlier called for the evacuation of several villages north of the Litani River on the same day, potentially indicating an expansion of Israel’s operational zone. Although talks between Israel and Lebanon have been ongoing, they have mainly occurred at the ambassadorial level. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized the need to strengthen the ceasefire before considering high-level meetings between Lebanon and Israel in Washington.
President Donald Trump recently extended the ceasefire by three weeks and expressed optimism about hosting Netanyahu and Aoun in the near future to facilitate a peace agreement. Salam clarified that Lebanon seeks peace, not normalization with Israel, and highlighted the importance of an Israel withdrawal timetable and disarmament of Hezbollah as part of the peace efforts.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in casualties on both sides, with Lebanon’s Health Ministry reporting four deaths in a recent Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military has also reported injuries to its soldiers due to explosive drones and rockets launched by Hezbollah in the region. The ongoing violence has claimed over 2,700 lives in Lebanon since the conflict began on March 2, with casualties on both sides.