The Voice News: On the eve of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest celebrations, Israel launched multiple airstrikes on southern Beirut, targeting what it claimed were Hezbollah drone production facilities. The attacks hit the Dahieh district, a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militant group.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated the operation targeted a Hezbollah unit allegedly manufacturing “thousands” of drones underground, financed by what it called “Iranian terrorists.” This strike follows a six-month ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanese authorities, though not directly with Hezbollah.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack, calling it a “systematic and deliberate assault” on Lebanon’s security and economy, particularly during a major holiday and tourism season. President Joseph Aoun also criticized the strike as a “flagrant violation” of international agreements.
Chaos ensued as thousands of residents fled the densely populated area following Israeli evacuation warnings. The warnings, issued an hour before the strike by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, identified specific buildings in Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Borj el-Barajneh as Hezbollah infrastructure.
The ongoing conflict has deep roots. Prior to the Israel-Gaza war, more than a year of cross-border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah led to a large-scale Israeli bombing campaign in southern Lebanon, resulting in around 4,000 deaths and displacing over 1.2 million people.
A ceasefire reached in November resulted in an Israeli withdrawal, with the Lebanese army assuming control of southern Lebanon. However, both parties retained the right to self-defense under the agreement. Despite this, Israel has continued launching strikes on Hezbollah-linked targets, including precision missile sites and personnel.
Hezbollah began its military operations a day after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, framing it as an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The militant group has not yet issued a response to the most recent strikes.