**The recent air assaults in Beirut highlight deteriorating relations and growing fears of regional conflict escalation.**
**Escalation in Southern Beirut: Israel Strikes on the Eve of Eid Al Adha**
**Escalation in Southern Beirut: Israel Strikes on the Eve of Eid Al Adha**
**Israeli airstrikes target Hezbollah amid ongoing tensions and a fragile ceasefire.**
Israeli forces executed multiple air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut late Thursday, coinciding with the eve of Eid Al Adha, a significant Muslim holiday. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes were aimed at dismantling a Hezbollah drone manufacturing unit that, according to their statement, is allegedly funded by Iranian entities. This military action comes despite an existing six-month ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned these assaults as a "deliberate attack" on the country’s security and stability, particularly distressing given its timing before a major holiday and the tourist season. The IDF maintained that the air strikes were a necessary response to Hezbollah's drone deployment, which it viewed as a direct threat to Israel.
Residents in the targeted areas were warned to evacuate just before the strikes, resulting in chaos and gridlock in Beirut’s already crowded streets. The Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, described the attacks as a serious breach of international agreements, emphasizing the sacred nature of the holiday on which they were conducted.
The history of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified over the past year, particularly following the Israel-Gaza conflict. Approximately 4,000 lives were lost in Lebanon due to the prior Israeli campaign, displacing over 1.2 million people in the process. A ceasefire agreement reached in November brought temporary relief, yet tensions remain high due to ongoing military actions by Israel against perceived Hezbollah threats.
Despite the continuous presence of Israeli military operations since the ceasefire, Hezbollah has remained relatively silent following the latest strikes, while concerns mount over further violence in the region. As both sides reaffirm their right to self-defense under international law, observers worry that such incidents may lead to an escalation of conflict as both parties navigate the fraught landscape of regional politics.
