Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Israeli strikes hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, on April 27, in a new escalation.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the strikes targeted the precision missile warehouse of Hezbollah, adding that the missiles “posed a significant threat to Israel.”
“Israel will not allow Hezbollah to grow stronger and pose any threat to it — anywhere in Lebanon,” the two said, stressing that Israel will not allow Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiya, to serve as a sanctuary for Hezbollah.
Netanyahu and Katz went on to warn that “the Lebanese government bears direct responsibility for preventing these threats.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also said that the strikes targeted a facility where Hezbollah stored precision missiles.
“The storage of missiles in this infrastructure site constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, and poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians,” the military said in a statement.
Before the strikes, the IDF issued a warning to civilians in the area. Moreover, Lebanese media reported that several small warning strikes were carried out in the area before fighter jets dropped heavier munitions to destroy the structure. No casualties were reported.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns the Israeli strikes on Beirut in a statement issued on his behalf.
Aoun called on “the United States and France, as guarantors of the ceasefire agreement, to assume their responsibilities and compel Israel to halt its attacks immediately.” He also said that Israel’s continued destabilization will intensify tensions in the region.
Hezbollah accepted the U.S.-proposed ceasefire following a heated confrontation with the IDF that broke out more than a year earlier as a result of the Israeli war on the group’s ally, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire, which went into effect on November 27, was supposed to end all clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border by February 18. Nevertheless, the Israeli military continues to launch strikes against Hezbollah. It also maintains troops at five strategic points in southern Lebanon.
This was the third time the IDF has carried out strikes in Beirut since the start of the ceasefire. The first two attacks were carried out on March 27 and April 1 in response to rocket attacks which the group denied responsibility for. The second strike killed Hassan Bdair, a senior intelligence commander of the group.
It is important to note here that the latest strike on the Lebanese capital was completely unprovoked. The strike will likely be followed by many as Israel has established that Hezbollah, which is facing immense pressure from the Lebanese government, will not respond.
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