BEIRUT — Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, the first such attack on the Lebanese capital since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement was renewed last week.
The strikes targeted the Dahieh district, a Hezbollah stronghold, hitting residential buildings. Lebanon's health ministry reported at least two people killed and about 20 others wounded, including civilians.
Israel's military said the operation was in response to rocket fire from Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the strikes as retaliation for earlier attacks on Israel.
The incident occurred days after a partial ceasefire deal that included commitments from Israel to refrain from striking Beirut and its suburbs in exchange for Hezbollah halting attacks on Israel. The agreement, facilitated by the United States, aimed to de-escalate the broader conflict.
Lebanese officials condemned the strikes as a violation of the truce. Hezbollah has rejected aspects of the broader ceasefire framework, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
"Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs without warning," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported, citing the attack on densely populated civilian areas.
The ceasefire, originally announced in April and renewed in early June, has faced repeated challenges. Both sides have accused each other of violations amid ongoing tensions linked to the wider regional situation involving Iran.
Israeli officials have maintained that strikes target Hezbollah infrastructure and imminent threats. Hezbollah has continued limited operations in response to what it describes as Israeli aggression.
The strikes sent plumes of smoke over the area and damaged at least two buildings, according to local reports. International mediators, including U.S. officials, have urged restraint to preserve the fragile truce.
As of Wednesday, no further Israeli strikes on Beirut were reported, though operations in southern Lebanon continued. Details on additional casualties or the full extent of damage remained limited, with both sides continuing to monitor the situation closely.
