The Israeli military confirmed on Sunday it targated a southern Beirut building being used by Hezbollah to store precision missiles.
The strike was a also test of a fragile truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant organisation.
A massive plume of smoke surged from the building, nearly an hour following the Israeli military published an evacuation notice to residents of the Hadath neighbourhood.
Israel Katz, Israeli Defence Minister stated in a statement that Hezbollah’s rigor missiles “posed a significant threat to the State of Israel”. There was no instant response from Hezbollah.
The recent attack adds to pressure on the United States-negotiated ceasefire that ended previous year’s destructive war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Today’s strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut generated panic and fear of renewed violence among those desperate for a return to normalcy,” U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, posted on X.
“We urge all sides to halt any actions that could further undermine the cessation of hostilities understanding and the implementation of SCR 1701,” Jeanine further stated, highlighting to the UNSC resolution that finished the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Joseph Aoun, Lebanese President urged on the U.S. and France, as guarantors of the truce deal took place in November, to force Israel to pause its strikes.
“Israel’s continued actions in undermining stability will exacerbate tensions and place the region at real risk, threatening its security and stability,” Joseph Aoun stated in a statement.
Ptior this month an Israel’s airstrike killed four individuals, consisting a official of Hezbollah, in Beirut’s southern suburbs -the second Israel’s attack on a Hezbollah-governed region of the capital of Lebenon in five days.
The strikes on southern Beirut have restarted at a time of wider intensification in hostilities in the area, with Israel having resumed Gaza attacks following a two-month ceasefire and the U.S. targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi Rebels of Yemen in a bid to aquire them to pause assaulting Red Sea shipping.
Israel has dealt significant setbacks to Hezbollah in the conflict, eliminating thousands of its militants, destructing much of its weaponry and killing its senior leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah has rejected any involvement in current rocket strikes from Lebanon towards Israel. (Forelines)