Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, pushing Israel's confrontation with Hezbollah into a new dangerous phase.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that they had issued direct instructions to the Israeli military to target what they described as “terrorist targets” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, accusing Hezbollah of “continuing to violate the ceasefire and target Israeli cities and citizens.”
The announcement, issued by the government rather than by the Israeli military, comes one day after the Israeli military announced the expansion of its ground operations in southern Lebanon and its capture of the historic Beaufort Castle.
Southern suburbs of Beirut witnessed intensified waves of displacement on Monday, as the Israeli military launched intensive airstrikes across several areas of southern Lebanon, including Tyre, Nabatieh, and surrounding towns. Strikes had already been escalating in the days prior as fighting intensified during Muslims’ celebration of Eid Al-Adha.
The escalation comes despite a ceasefire announced April 17 under US sponsorship that has since been extended, with Israel continuing to strike Lebanese villages throughout. The death toll in Lebanon has climbed to 3,213 since March, including civilians and paramedics, according to the local health ministry.
For its part, Hezbollah announced a series of operations targeting Israeli troop concentrations and vehicles in areas of Israeli ground invasion in southern Lebanon using guided missiles and attack drones. Israeli media reported that the group expanded the scope of its attacks to reach areas near Acre and Haifa for the first time since the ceasefire began.
The Israeli military announced that Sergeant First Class Adam Tzarfati, 20, was killed in clashes in southern Lebanon, bringing the number of Israeli military fatalities since the start of the truce to 13 soldiers.
Iran placed direct responsibility on Israel and Washington for any consequences of ceasefire violations.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote Monday on X that any agreement between Tehran and Washington must cover Lebanon. “The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts,” he explained.
Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shakarchi, spokesperson of the Iranian Armed Forces, also warned that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon “will not be tolerated,” accusing Israel of exploiting the ceasefire to expand its military operations inside Lebanese territory, according to Tasnim News Agency.
Egypt condemned the Israeli advance as a “flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty” and called for an immediate withdrawal, while France requested an emergency UN Security Council session.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described Israel’s military expansion in Lebanon as a “major mistake” that runs counter to international law, in an interview with French network BFMTV.
Lebanon’s government has stepped up contacts with Washington in an effort to prevent the conflict from reaching the capital, with ceasefire talks with US officials are scheduled for June 2–3.
