Israeli Missiles Strike Hezbollah Stronghold in Beirut, Three Killed

The Israeli military has launched its latest attack on Lebanese territory, with missiles reportedly striking Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut. According to CNN International, the assault on Sunday was a response to fire directed at Israeli territory earlier in the morning. This exchange of attacks marks yet another episode amid the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces stated they struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut in retaliation for Hezbollah’s fire into Israeli territory. Footage showed damage to an apartment building in the Dahiyeh neighbourhood, a Hezbollah bastion. Israel last carried out a strike in Beirut the previous week, when Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the attack directed at Israeli territory, stating, "We will not allow shooting at our territory or our communities, and we will act accordingly."

Earlier this month, the United States mediated a new ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, under which Israel committed not to target Beirut if Hezbollah did not target Israeli civilians. Hezbollah rejected the new agreement. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that Lebanon’s Civil Defence Agency said it had recovered three bodies after the Israeli strike hit the Ghoebeiry area in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The agency said in a statement that search, rescue, and debris clearance operations were still ongoing at the scene. The National News Agency reported that 15 people were injured and significant damage occurred to surrounding buildings and shops.