Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs were hit by at least 12 heavy airstrikes on Tuesday, security sources and eyewitnesses said, as Israel’s newly appointed defence minister rejected any talk of a possible ceasefire.
The strikes hit the areas of Haret Hreik, Ghobeiri, al Hadath, Beir al Abed and Lailaki. Earlier, an Israeli army spokesman sent a warning on the social media platform X to evacuate areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The airstrikes caused panic among the population, as many people usually go in the morning to check on their houses in the southern suburbs. People in the area were seen jumping on motorbikes and speeding away by car when the warnings came in.
Black plumes of smoke covered the targeted areas. According to Lebanese security sources, one building was levelled to the ground in the Beir al-Abed neighboorhood.
The strikes also caused panic at nearby schools, as parents rushed to collect their children. Videos circulating on social media showed pupils screaming in a classroom while filming the black smoke on their phones.
The sound of the airstrikes echoed throughout the Lebanese capital and the overlooking areas of Mount Lebanon.
The southern suburbs had been cautiously calm for the past two days. Security sources said Tuesday’s attack was the heaviest daytime airstrike on the area this month.
It came after the Shiite militant Hezbollah organization claimed two attacks in northern Israel and Haifa.
Strikes on Israel
The Israeli military said the drone attack had triggered air raid sirens in Haifa, Acre and other areas.
One drone that crossed from Lebanon was identified as falling in the area of Nesher, the Israeli military said, adding that no casualties had been reported.
Since September, Israel’s military has massively expanded its attacks in Lebanon, where it says it is fighting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Fighter planes have bombed targets across the country and frequently in the suburbs south of Beirut.
No prospect of ceasefire
New Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ruled out a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, contradicting media reports that a pause could be imminent after more than a year of fighting.
“In Lebanon there will be no ceasefire and there will be no respite,” Katz posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, following discussions with the Israeli general staff.
Katz spoke of the “great and powerful activities” carried out by the Israeli military against Hezbollah, citing the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah among other things.
These provided a “picture of victory” for Israel, he said, adding that the offensive activities had to continue.
“We will continue to hit Hezbollah with full force until the goals of the war are achieved,” added Katz, who was foreign minister until a reshuffle last week.
He said Israel would only agree to a settlement if it granted Israel the right to continue combatting terrorism in Lebanon and enabled the disarmament of Hezbollah, as well as its withdrawal to the area north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres from the border to Israel.
Israel has been fighting for more than a year on several fronts, against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip as well as Hezbollah to the north.
The fighting began after the massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023 carried out by Hamas and other extremists from the Gaza Strip, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 kidnapped.
