Israel’s air force has launched an attack on the Lebanese capital Beirut, in the first heavy bombing since a ceasefish -the fire between Israel and the militant group of Hezbollah started.
The Israeli Defense Groups (IDF) said it was a drone storage facility in the area of the Iran supported by Iran.
The strike, which was heard about Beirut, produced a large column of black smoke and followed an evacuation warrant by the IDF for the neighborhood, promised to take revenge against strikes that said it was launched from Lebanon to the north of Israel
Drone -oriented drone strikes were also launched on the building intended as warning shots, security sources told Reuters.
Large parts of the suburb of Beirut van Dahieh seemed to have been influenced by the Israeli attack. ((Reuters: Mohamed Azakir))
“This morning, projectiles from Lebanon were fired to Noord -Israël, which pose a direct threat to Israeli citizens,” said the IDF in a statement placed on X.
“This attack is a blatant violation of the views between Israel and Lebanon. The state of Lebanon is responsible for maintaining the agreement.
“In response, the IDF hit a Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure that was used to store UAVs in the area of Dahieh, an important Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut.”
The Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, said on Friday that if there was no peace in the northern communities of Israel, there would also be no peace in Beirut.
“I send a clear message to the Lebanese government: if you do not enforce the ceasefire agreement, we will enforce it,” he said in a statement after the strikes on Beirut.
Hours afterwards the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated that feeling and said that the strikes on Beirut were “another example of our determination”.
“The comparison has changed – what happened before the attacks of October 7 will not be repeated. We will not allow us to shoot at our communities, not even a drizzle,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement posted on X.
“We will continue to maintain it -fires powerfully, everywhere in Lebanon attacks against any threat to the state of Israel and ensure that all our residents in the north safely return to their houses.“
Hezbollah denied firing the missiles in North Israel and accused Israel of the search for a pretext to continue to attack Lebanon.
After the evacuation of the IDF, the Libanon government ordered all schools and universities in the southern outskirts of Beirut van Hadath to close for the day. Residents were seen the area in cars and on foot for the strike.
The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, on Friday that the attack of Israel on the southern suburbs of Beirut was a continuation of Israeli violations of the Stakes -Tendal.
“We condemn every attack on Lebanon and every suspect attempt to bring Lebanon back to the cycle of violence,” said Lebanese president of the president in a statement placed on X.
“I call on Lebanon’s friends to act quickly to stop the deterioration and help Lebanon to implement international resolutions.
“The international community must put an end to these attacks and forcing Israel to adhere to the agreement, just like Lebanon is committed to it.”
Mr. Aoun met Mr. Macron during a visit to Paris.
Macron condemns Israeli strikes on Beirut
In an address in Paris next to Mr Aoun, the French president described the Israeli strikes on Beirut as “unacceptable”, a “betrayal” and a violation of the ceases -the fire.
He said that France would support Lebanon to maintain his sovereignty and to continue to work with the United States to ensure that the deal of stakes -the fire continues.
Piles of smoldering debris and rubble were inspected by locals in the aftermath of Israeli air strikes on Beirut. ((Reuters: Mohamed Azakir))
The president also promised to call US President Donald Trump to discuss the strikes on Beirut, and said that he intends to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the next 48 hours.
“The framework that Lebanon and Israel corresponded was not unilaterally respected today by Israel and without having information or evidence from the trigger event,” said Mr. Macron.
First attack on Beirut since Israel-Hezbollah Stakten-Fires started
The attack was the first strike on Beirut, because a ceasefire -the fire on November 27 last year between Israel and Hezbollah came up, although Israel has since hit goals in South Libanon in South Libanon.
Hezbollah started launching rockets, drones and missiles in Israel the day after Hamas 7 October 2023, attack from Gaza, the war ignited there.
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The Israel-Hezbollah conflict cooked in the total war in September when Israel carried out waves of air strikes and killed most senior leaders of the militant group. The fights killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced around 60,000 Israelis.
Israeli troops would withdraw from the entire Lebanese territory at the end of January under the ceasefire. The deadline was expanded until February 18, but Israel stayed at five locations in Lebanon opposite communities in North Israel.
In his speech next to Mr Aoun, President Macron said that he believes that Israel should withdraw from those five locations, while the work is underway to disarm Hezbollah.
In the meantime, Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on South and East Libanon and said it was attacking Hezbollah, while he continued drone attacks that different members of the militant group killed.
Last week Israeli air killed six people at different locations in Lebanon.
The special UN coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said that the exchange of fire was deep.
“This is a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region,” she said on Friday.
According to an Israeli official who was not authorized to speak with the media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met top safety officers to discuss an approaching strike of the capital.
AP/Reuters
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