Israel Escalates Tensions With Second Airstrike on Beirut
Israel has launched another airstrike on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, for the second time in a week, killing at least three people and further straining the fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah. The attack, which struck the southern suburb of Dahiyeh early Tuesday, also injured at least seven others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
The Israeli military claimed it was targeting a Hezbollah member allegedly assisting Hamas in planning an attack against Israeli civilians. However, no evidence was provided to support this claim. Hezbollah has not issued an immediate response.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike, calling it a “dangerous warning” of Israel’s hostile intentions. He urged diplomatic efforts to rally international support for Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Footage from the scene showed heavy smoke, damaged apartment buildings, and debris covering vehicles. Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar reported that rescue operations were ongoing, and no official identification of the victims had been released.
This latest strike has raised concerns within the Lebanese government, as it follows Israel’s previous bombing of Beirut just three days earlier. The ceasefire agreement, brokered by France and the United States, had brought an end to prolonged hostilities, requiring Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters to move beyond the Litani River. However, both sides have accused each other of violations.
Israel delayed its promised withdrawal in January and has continued operations in southern Lebanon, justifying near-daily strikes as targeting Hezbollah positions. On Friday, Israel claimed its attack was in retaliation for rocket fire from Lebanon, but the latest strike occurred without such provocation.
Hezbollah’s leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, warned that if Israel’s attacks persist and Lebanon’s government fails to act, the group would consider alternative responses. Meanwhile, analysts have attributed Israel’s aggressive stance to the lack of condemnation from the United States.
Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies argued that the U.S. has enabled Israel’s continued military actions in Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied Palestinian territories by refusing to criticize or restrict arms supplies. She described Israel’s actions as an expansion of its war efforts beyond Gaza, with international mediators failing to intervene.
With Israel’s unilateral escalation, concerns grow over the potential collapse of the ceasefire and the risk of renewed conflict in the region.
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