Israel has attacked Lebanon's capital, Beirut, for the first time since the ceasefire ended the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah in November.

Reporters from the Associated Press in Beirut heard a loud explosion and saw smoke rising from the southern suburbs of the city, an area that Israel's military had previously warned it would target. Israel carried out its first airstrike on Beirut since the ceasefire with Hezbollah began last November. However, Israel has been striking targets in southern Lebanon almost daily. According to the Israeli army, the attack targeted a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, an area it considers a militant stronghold. Israel also accused Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields and had warned residents to leave the area before the strike.

The affected area includes both homes and businesses and is located near at least two schools. Israeli officials stated that the attack was in response to rockets launched from Lebanon into northern Israel. They warned that strikes on Beirut would continue unless Lebanon's government took action to prevent such attacks. “We will not allow firing at our communities, not even a trickle,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. We will attack everywhere in Lebanon, against any threat to the State of Israel." Hezbollah denied launching the rockets and accused Israel of using them as an excuse to keep attacking Lebanon. Meanwhile, Lebanon's government ordered all schools and universities in Hadath, a southern suburb of Beirut, to remain closed for the day. Many residents were seen leaving the area by car and on foot before the attack.  

Hezbollah started firing rockets, drones, and missiles at Israel on October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel. In that attack, Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages, leading to the war in Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah turned into a full-scale war last September when Israel launched heavy airstrikes, killing most of Hezbollah’s senior leaders. The fighting resulted in over 4,000 deaths in Lebanon and forced around 60,000 Israelis to leave their homes. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces were expected to leave all Lebanese territory by late January. However, the deadline was extended to February 18. Despite this, Israel has continued to stay in five border areas and has carried out multiple airstrikes, claiming to target Hezbollah locations in southern and eastern Lebanon. Last week, Israeli airstrikes hit several places in Lebanon, killing six people.

Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, speaking in Paris, stated that the strike near Beirut was another example of Israel violating the agreement brokered by France and the US. During a joint press conference with Aoun, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable. He assured that he would discuss the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Macron also stated that the US has the ability to put pressure on Israel. A spokeswoman from the US State Department urged Lebanon's government to take action. "Israel is defending its people and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon," the spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, said Friday. "We expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further hostilities." The escalation has produced "a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region," according to Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes hit different parts of Lebanon on Friday, killing three people and injuring 18 others, including women and children, in the southern village of Kfar Tibnit, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. These attacks come less than two weeks after Israel unexpectedly resumed its conflict with Hamas, launching airstrikes in Gaza that killed hundreds of people. Earlier this month, Israel also stopped the delivery of essential supplies like food, fuel, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the two million Palestinians living in Gaza. Israel has stated that it will continue the war until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages, of whom 24 are believed to be alive. 

Israel is also demanding that Hamas give up power, disarm, and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has stated that it will only release the remaining hostages if Israel agrees to three conditions: the release of Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a full withdrawal from Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s offensive in the region has resulted in over 50,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries. However, the ministry has not specified how many of those were civilians or fighters. On Friday, the ministry reported that nearly 900 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire ended in mid-March, including more than 40 in the past 24 hours.