Israel bombs Beirut for the first time since the November truce, killing three in southern Lebanon.
Tel Aviv attacks a neighborhood in the south of the capital, where it claims there was a drone warehouse.
BeirutBeirut relived the nightmare that seemed to be over four months ago. At 1:40 p.m., three explosions resonated loudly throughout the city, reminding residents of the Lebanese capital of the constant danger that lurks. Israeli warplanes attacked a building in the Hadath neighborhood, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, in retaliation for the firing of two rockets from southern Lebanon at the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel. The threat from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz materialized in massive airstrikes on several areas of southern Lebanon, an escalation of tensions that seemed to have subsided in recent months.
The echoes of the explosions shook the city, while the population, still fresh in the memory of the previous bombings, once again found itself trapped between uncertainty and fear. The Israeli reaction was swift: more than fifty airstrikes were launched during the day against several towns in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut, resulting in at least three deaths and 18 injuries, including several children.
This attack is only the latest in a tension that has never been fully resolved in the region. The presence of Hezbollah, although it has denied responsibility for the attacks, remains a great shadow hanging over Lebanon's southern border. Israel has blamed this group, and its government has accused the Lebanese state of failing to ensure compliance with ceasefire agreements.
The Lebanese authorities, however, have been quick to deny Hezbollah's direct involvement in the rocket fire. From Paris, President Joseph Aoun emphasized that "everything indicates" that the pro-Iranian group is not responsible for the attack, and insisted that an investigation would be carried out to clarify the facts. However, while the Lebanese government tries to navigate between external pressures and internal reality, the lack of effective control over southern Lebanon and the persistence of Hezbollah as a military and political actor make any attempt at disarmament or guaranteeing a ceasefire extremely difficult.
The impact of the Israeli attacks has been devastating. In areas near the targets, residents experienced hours of panic. The evacuation of buildings near the target of the attack, which housed a drone warehouse, led to a mass exodus and a collapse in the streets of Beirut. The situation has been so chaotic that the Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate closure of all schools and universities in the affected suburbs. Fears of further bombing and airstrikes increased when Israeli planes carried out simulated raids in the area, a psychological tactic to further sow terror.
On the diplomatic front, the Lebanese government has stepped up its efforts to prevent the situation from escalating into open warfare. President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have held talks with international actors, seeking to pressure Israel to stop the attacks and respect ceasefire agreements. The UN has also called for restraint, warning that a further escalation of the conflict would be devastating for civilians on both sides of the border. But, as in the past, the international community appears powerless in the face of the reality on the ground, where Hezbollah remains a key player.
Lebanon's greatest challenge is the disarmament of the pro-Iranian militia, a goal that, for now, seems unattainable. Despite continued international pressure and the Lebanese government's efforts to impose control, the armed group continues to operate autonomously, as demonstrated by the latest rocket fire against Israel. The visit of Morgan Ortagus, the US special envoy to the Middle East, announced for next week, has once again put the possibility of "reconstruction in exchange for disarmament" on the table, but the proposal clashes with the Lebanese political reality, where Hezbollah still maintains significant military power and political representation.
Despite efforts to limit Hezbollah's power, Nawaf Salam's government has failed to fulfill its international commitments, especially with regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which demands the demilitarization of southern Lebanon. The continued violation of this agreement by the Lebanese Shiite militia and Israel fuels tensions and jeopardizes any attempt to de-escalate the situation.
The situation remains uncertain, and every explosion, every missile fired, seems to bring the country a little closer to a new conflict.
