Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on June 5, targeting alleged Hezbollah drone production facilities in the Dahiyeh area, marking the fourth attack on the Lebanese capital since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect in November 2024.
The strikes, which occurred on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, followed an Israeli military evacuation order for residents in Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Burj al-Barajneh, sparking panic as families fled.
The Israeli military claimed the targets were Hezbollah infrastructure, a charge denied by a Hezbollah official who insisted no such facilities existed. The attacks, which destroyed approximately 100 housing units according to Lebanon’s Wafa news agency, have heightened fears that the fragile truce could unravel, with Lebanese leaders condemning Israel’s actions as a blatant violation of international agreements.
Escalating Tensions Amid Ceasefire Violations
The November 2024 ceasefire, intended to halt 14 months of conflict that killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, mandated Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and Israel’s full troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon within 60 days.
However, Israel has maintained a presence in five southern hilltop positions and conducted near-daily strikes, killing at least 190 people and wounding nearly 500 since the truce began, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
On June 5, additional strikes hit the southern Lebanese village of Ain Qana, east of Sidon, shortly after further evacuation warnings.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Beirut attack as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire and international law, urging the U.S. and France, guarantors of the agreement, to pressure Israel to halt its operations.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed this call, demanding international action to enforce Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
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Regional and International Reactions
The strikes have drawn sharp criticism from international observers. UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert described the attacks as generating “panic and fear of renewed violence” among residents desperate for normalcy.
Analyst Rami Khouri noted that Israel’s persistent military actions, including assassinations and strikes over the past four months, have failed to subdue Hezbollah, instead fueling dissent.
Hezbollah, weakened by the 2024 conflict that killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah and much of its senior leadership, has largely adhered to the ceasefire, with only one confirmed attack on Israel since November, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the strikes, vowing to enforce the ceasefire “without compromises” to prevent Hezbollah from rearming. The Lebanese government, under pressure to disarm Hezbollah, faces challenges in asserting control over southern regions where the group retains influence.
Did You Know?
In 2006, a UN Security Council Resolution (1701) ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, establishing a framework for Lebanese sovereignty that the current ceasefire builds upon, yet violations persist.
Broader Implications for Stability
The repeated ceasefire violations, including Israel’s strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure, threaten Lebanon’s fragile recovery. The 14-month war displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese and caused $8.5 billion in damages, per a World Bank report.
Israel’s continued presence in southern Lebanon, including semi-permanent Forward Operating Bases, has blocked thousands from returning home, with troops firing on civilians attempting to access border villages.
The Lebanese Armed Forces have increased their presence south of the Litani River, taking control of former Hezbollah facilities, but full deployment awaits Israel’s withdrawal.
The absence of a robust enforcement mechanism for the ceasefire, coupled with Israel’s insistence on acting in “self-defense,” raises concerns of renewed hostilities. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has signaled patience but warned that Israel’s actions could push the group to respond, potentially escalating the conflict.
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