Israeli Airstrikes Hit Beirut Suburbs on Eve of Eid al-Adha

Israeli airstrikes struck the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday evening, just hours before Muslims in Lebanon and across the region prepared to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday. The attacks, which Israeli authorities said targeted underground Hezbollah drone facilities, mark the fourth time Israel has bombed Beirut since a ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese group went into effect in November.

Targeting what it said were underground drone production facilities operated by the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah. Before the attack, the Israeli military ordered residents of three areas in Dahiya, a tightly packed cluster of neighborhoods to evacuate from the vicinity of buildings it had highlighted on a map posted to social media site, X. Since October 2023, Israel has frequently used social media as a tool to warn of future war crimes.

Hoping to deter the airstrikes, the Lebanese military attempted to inspect the buildings flagged by Israel and had contacted the U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring committee formed after the war. According to a senior Lebanese security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, Israeli warning fire blocked troops from reaching the area.

The Lebanese government reportedly asked Israel to delay the attack until the army could inspect the sites, but the request was denied. A Hezbollah spokesperson denied that the targeted buildings contained drone production infrastructure.

Ceasefire in Question

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire on a near-daily basis for seven months and condemned the timing of the strikes. Aoun has recently appealed to the United States and France to reel Israel’s behavior in.

In a statement after the strikes, President Aoun said,

“This blatant violation of an international agreement, as well as the most basic principles of international, humanitarian and UN laws and resolutions – on the eve of a sacred religious occasion- is irrefutable evidence of the perpetrator’s rejection of the requirements for stability, resolution and just peace in our region.”

The Wafa news agency reported that 100 housing units were destroyed in Israel’s strikes on southern Beirut. Up to eight buildings were targeted in four densely populated neighborhoods, adding that the magnitude of these air strikes meant all the area’s residents had to flee.

Later Thursday night, Lebanese state media confirmed Israeli strikes also targeted the southern Lebanese village of Ain Qana, which is located to the east of the coastal city of Sidon.

Israel’s military has continually targeted southern Lebanon and Israeli troops still occupy five hilltop positions in the south.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also issued a statement condemning the strikes. He called on the international community to deter Israel from “continuing its aggressions” and compel it to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory.

The Lebanese army on Friday condemned the attacks and said it may suspend cooperation with the committee monitoring the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

“The Israeli enemy violations of the deal and its refusal to respond to the committee is weakening the role of the committee and the army,” the Lebanese army said in its statement. It said such attacks by Israel could lead the army to freeze its cooperation with the committee “when it comes to searching posts.”

Israeli Response

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “We will continue to enforce the ceasefire rules without any compromises and will not allow any entity to create threats against the northern communities and all citizens of the State of Israel.”

The 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians. The Lebanese government said in April that Israeli strikes had killed another 190 people and wounded nearly 500 since the ceasefire.

The Eid al-Adha strikes mark yet another flashpoint in a conflict that has repeatedly tested the limits of ceasefire agreements and international diplomacy.  As Lebanese leaders appeal for international intervention and warn of further deterioration, the question remains whether global powers will act to restrain Israel’s military operations or continue to allow violations to go unchecked. With tensions escalating and civilian populations bearing the brunt, the fragile truce faces an uncertain future.