Israel carried out an airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday, breaking a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. The attack targeted a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in the southern suburbs of the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the action in a joint statement. While Israeli media reported the commander’s death, there was no immediate confirmation from either the Israeli military or Hezbollah.
The ceasefire in Lebanon has been a crucial component of a broader truce between the U.S. and Iran. However, the recent Israeli strikes have raised concerns about the sustainability of the ceasefire that halted Israeli attacks on Beirut. Israeli troops remain positioned south of the Litani River, and strikes have continued in southern Lebanon.
In response to the Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, has retaliated by firing rockets and launching armed drones at Israeli soldiers. Israel had earlier issued evacuation orders for several villages north of the Litani River, indicating a possible expansion of its operational zone.
Discussions between Israel and Lebanon have been ongoing, primarily at the ambassadorial level. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that it was premature to consider high-level talks between Lebanon and Israel. He emphasized that reinforcing the ceasefire would be a prerequisite for any future negotiations between the two countries’ government representatives in Washington.
Despite the escalating tensions, the U.S. announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire on April 23. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about hosting Netanyahu and Aoun soon and hinted at the possibility of a peace agreement this year. Lebanon clarified that its goal was peace and not normalization with Israel, emphasizing the importance of a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal and efforts to place weapons under state control to disarm Hezbollah.
Israel has established a self-declared security zone extending up to 10 kilometers into southern Lebanon as a measure to safeguard northern Israel from Hezbollah threats. The ongoing conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting over 2,700 deaths since the outbreak of hostilities on March 2. The Israeli military has confirmed casualties among its soldiers and civilians due to Hezbollah’s attacks.
