The Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday targeted a drone storage unit used by Hezbollah, marking the first attack on the area since the ceasefire with the group was established in November. The airstrike followed a rocket attack from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, which Israel intercepted. Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire, and both Israel and Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, described the attack as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The situation reflects the ongoing challenges to maintaining the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which had been brokered with the support of France and the U.S. The Israeli military has conducted frequent airstrikes on Hezbollah-related targets, citing concerns over the group’s rearming efforts. Despite this, the ceasefire has largely held, though violations from both sides continue to strain the agreement.