Israel launched air strikes on southern Beirut on Sunday. This is the first attack on the Lebanese capital since a truce brokered by the United States last week. The strikes hit two apartment buildings. Two people died. At least 17 people were injured.
Lebanon's state news agency reported these figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck "terrorist headquarters." He stated this was a response to Hezbollah firing at Israeli territory. Hezbollah has not yet commented on the incident. Israel had previously limited attacks on Beirut due to US pressure.
The United States is worried that strikes in Beirut could harm peace deal efforts with Iran. Iran insists on a complete ceasefire in Lebanon. Sunday's strike damaged apartment buildings. It scattered debris onto the street. Social media videos show people helping the wounded. An Israeli army spokesman said "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure" was targeted. He suggested more strikes were possible.
The Israeli military reported intercepting two projectiles from Lebanon. Hezbollah did not admit firing them. Iran's parliament foreign policy spokesperson promised a "decisive and painful response." This attack comes after threats of a wider Israeli offensive on Beirut. This had caused people to flee the suburb. US diplomacy intensified before the June 3 truce.
President Trump announced "no troops going to Beirut" after speaking with Netanyahu. The US told Qatar, which helped broker de-escalation, that Israel was instructed to stand down. However, Trump later stated he was not demanding Lebanon be part of any peace deal with Iran. This separates the two issues. The Beirut attack risks destabilizing both.
Lebanon entered the conflict on March 2. Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel. This was retaliation for an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. Israel responded with air campaigns and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. These actions have escalated recently. A ceasefire technically began on April 17. It has been violated by both sides.
Israel intensified air strikes in southern Lebanon over the weekend. Sunday's attack is the third strike on the capital since the ceasefire started. The first two strikes targeted Hezbollah commanders. Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected the US-brokered deal. He leads the Amal movement, which is close to Hezbollah. Berri called the agreement "a trap." He said it failed to mention an Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah does not have a seat in those talks. Its leader, Naim Qassem, stated that disarming the group would fulfill "the enemy's objectives." This situation highlights the delicate balance of power and ongoing tensions in the region.