Israel ⁤Strikes Hezbollah Drone sites in Beirut, Raising Tensions

Updated June ‍06, 2025
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Israeli forces conducted air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs Thursday, targeting what thay described as Hezbollah’s drone production facilities. The attack, which occurred on the ⁣eve of ‍Eid‍ Al Adha, a major ⁣Islamic holiday, followed evacuation warnings issued for⁢ several buildings in the area, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The Israel Defense Forces⁣ (IDF) stated they identified a Hezbollah unit producing “thousands” of drones underground, allegedly funded by‍ “Iranian terrorists.” There were ⁤no immediate reports of casualties.

Lebanon’s Prime⁣ Minister Nawaf Salam ⁤condemned the strikes.In a post on X, Salam said, “I consider them to constitute a systematic adn deliberate attack on our homeland, its security, stability, and ⁢economy, especially on⁤ the eve of the holidays and the tourist season.”

the strikes prompted thousands to flee the densely populated ‍area, causing critically⁢ important traffic congestion. Plumes of smoke were seen rising into the sky following the explosions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ‍called the strikes a “flagrant violation‍ of an international accord,” noting the timing on the ⁤eve⁤ of a sacred religious festival.

Jeannine Hennis, of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said the strikes ⁤”generated renewed panic and fear ⁤on the eve of Eid Al-Adha.” Hennis emphasized the importance of diplomacy⁣ in resolving⁤ disputes and preventing escalation.

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the military’s “perfect execution” of the strikes, asserting ⁣that Israel⁢ holds the Lebanese government “directly ⁢responsible for preventing violations of the ceasefire and all terrorist activity.”

The Israeli military ⁣said ⁣Hezbollah’s “extensive use” of drones was central to its attacks⁣ on ⁤Israel, calling the activities “a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”

An hour before the air strikes,⁤ Avichay Adraee, the Israeli‍ military’s Arabic spokesman, ordered residents in the⁣ neighborhoods of Hadath, Haret Hreik,⁤ and Borj el-Barajneh to evacuate. “You are next to infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah,” he said in a social media post.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated after hezbollah fired rockets at⁢ Israeli positions the day after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, saying it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians in⁣ gaza.

lebanese authorities say Israel’s attacks killed ⁤about 4,000 people there – including many ⁣civilians ⁢- and led to the displacement of more ⁤than 1.2 million⁣ residents. ⁣Israeli authorities ⁤say more than 80 of ⁣its⁣ soldiers and 47 of ⁤its civilians were‍ killed in the hostilities.

Israel said the military ‍intervention was necessary‍ to dismantle Hezbollah installations near⁢ the border that it argued a UN peacekeeping mission had⁣ failed to stop.

Its stated goal was to ⁣allow the return ⁢of about 60,000 residents who ⁢had been displaced from communities in ‍the country’s north because of the group’s attacks.

A ceasefire struck in late November between Israel and Lebanon⁣ – but not Hezbollah – saw Israel withdraw while the Lebanese army took over policing southern ‍Lebanon.

The agreement ⁣also stated that its commitments “do not preclude either Israel or Lebanon from⁢ exercising their inherent right⁢ of ‍self-defense, consistent with international law”.

Israel has carried out air strikes in Lebanon on⁣ targets⁣ it says are linked to ⁤Hezbollah in the months as.

In April, Israel attacked what it described as a Hezbollah store of “precision-guided missiles” ⁢in the ⁣same Dahieh ⁣region.

Earlier the same month,it launched a similar strike,killing a Hezbollah official and three other people Lebanon’s ‍health ministry said⁢ at the time.

Lebanon’s government said⁤ those attacks, as well as the continued stationing ⁢of Israeli soldiers in five locations in southern Lebanon, constitute violations of the truce.

What’s next

The situation remains tense, with potential for further escalation. Diplomatic efforts are underway to⁣ de-escalate tensions‍ and prevent further conflict between⁢ Israel and Hezbollah.