Israeli air strikes pummeled the southern suburbs of Beirut late Thursday, sending thousands fleeing as accusations flew that Israel was violating a ceasefire deal. At least 10 strikes hit Dahiyeh, a sprawling area in southern Lebanon, prompting Lebanese officials to condemn the attacks.
The Israeli military said it targeted “underground UAV production infrastructure sites” in the area, claiming Hezbollah was producing thousands of drones with Iranian backing. However, a Lebanese security source disputed this, stating that Lebanese troops found no military equipment at the site earlier that day and were blocked from searching further by Israeli warning strikes.
The strikes coincided with the start of the Muslim holiday Eid Al-Adha, causing “renewed panic and fear,” according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced the attacks as a “blatant violation” of international agreements.
This is not the first time Israel has targeted southern Lebanon since a U.S.-brokered truce in November ended a year-long war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to withdraw military equipment and fighters from the area, but tensions remain high between the two parties.
The latest strikes come amid concerns that the ceasefire deal is becoming increasingly fragile, with both sides accusing each other of not fulfilling its terms.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-issues-evacuation-warning-residents-beiruts-southern-suburbs-2025-06-05