Israel warns it will resume strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after alleged Hezbollah ceasefire breaches
Israeli leaders ordered renewed strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after accusing Hezbollah of violating the April 17 ceasefire, warning the area will not remain calm if attacks continue.
The Israeli government said on Monday it had instructed the military to strike targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, after what it described as repeated breaches of the ceasefire that followed heavy fighting earlier this year. The decision came a day after Israeli forces carried out their deepest incursion into southern Lebanon since their withdrawal in 2000, raising fears of an expanded confrontation. Lebanese President Jozef Aoun condemned the operations as a severe and condemnable aggression, while the European Union urged Israel to halt military escalation ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting.
Order to strike issued by Israeli leadership
A joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said the government had authorized strikes against what it identified as hostile positions in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Israeli officials framed the move as a response to cross-border attacks and rocket fire attributed to Hezbollah since a ceasefire took effect on April 17. The government emphasized that the strikes were intended to deter further attacks against Israeli towns and citizens.
Hezbollah accused of repeated ceasefire violations
Israeli authorities accused Hezbollah of carrying out a series of provocations that they say undermined the fragile pause in hostilities.
Military sources in Israel characterized the incidents as attacks on northern towns and infrastructure, citing them as the justification for renewed operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah has not publicly altered its messaging in the Arabic-language report, which echoed Israeli claims linking the southern suburbs to the group’s activities.
Deepest Israeli incursion since 2000 raises tensions
The reported Israeli advance into southern Lebanon on Sunday marked the most significant penetration since Israel’s withdrawal in 2000, according to the Arabic report.
That operation appears to have intensified public alarm in Beirut and in regional diplomatic circles, as cross-border movements and limited ground actions raise the risk of broader confrontation beyond controlled air or artillery strikes.
Lebanese presidency denounces the operations
Lebanese President Jozef Aoun described the recent moves as a fierce and condemnable aggression against the state, stressing the country’s sovereignty and the humanitarian implications of renewed hostilities.
Authorities in Beirut appealed for calm while preparing for potential escalations, signaling concern about civilian safety in both southern suburbs and wider urban areas if strikes resume.
International reaction and Security Council attention
The European Union publicly urged Israel to stop military escalation, reflecting immediate international concern ahead of a scheduled United Nations Security Council session on Lebanon.
Diplomats said the council meeting would focus on recent developments, including the deepest Israeli foray into southern Lebanon since 2000 and reported violations of the April ceasefire, as member states weighed responses and calls for restraint.
Warnings from Israeli ministers and military posture
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned that Beirut’s southern suburbs would not be treated differently from towns in northern Israel, signaling a readiness to respond symmetrically to further attacks.
Netanyahu and Katz framed their orders as defensive measures intended to protect Israeli civilians and deter future strikes, while the Israeli military maintained operational readiness along the northern frontier.
Lebanese and Israeli civilians remain on edge as diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent a wider war, with the United Nations and regional actors under pressure to translate appeals for restraint into concrete de‑escalation measures.