Israel Launches First Beirut Airstrike Since Ceasefire, Claims Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander Killed
Tensions in the Middle East escalated once again after Israel carried out an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut late Wednesday night, marking the first direct strike on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect last month.
The Israeli military said the operation targeted a senior commander belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, a specialised unit that Israel accuses of leading attacks against Israeli troops and border communities in northern Israel.
The strike hit the densely populated Dahieh area in southern Beirut, particularly the Haret Hreik neighbourhood, which is widely regarded as a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Soon after the attack, videos circulated on social media showing flames and thick smoke rising from a damaged building as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
According to Israeli officials, the operation was personally approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
In a joint statement, Israeli authorities claimed the targeted commander had played a key role in planning and carrying out attacks against Israeli military personnel and civilian communities near the Lebanon-Israel border.
Lebanese media reports suggested that several members of Hezbollah’s Radwan unit were allegedly attending a meeting when the strike took place around 8 pm local time.
However, Hezbollah had not officially confirmed the death of the commander or issued a detailed statement on the incident until Thursday morning.
The latest strike has significantly heightened concerns over the stability of the fragile ceasefire announced on April 16 after weeks of intense cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Although the ceasefire had largely reduced Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, hostilities never fully stopped.
Clashes and military exchanges have continued in southern Lebanon, with both Israel and Hezbollah repeatedly accusing each other of violating the truce agreement.
Israel has continued military operations in areas south of the Litani River, maintaining that its objective is to establish what it describes as a “Hezbollah-free” security zone along the northern border.
On the other hand, Hezbollah — which is backed by Iran — has continued launching rocket and drone attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and northern Israeli towns in response to Israeli operations inside Lebanon.
Residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs described scenes of panic and confusion following Wednesday night’s strike, with many fearing a return to wider conflict despite the ceasefire agreement announced only weeks earlier.
The renewed escalation has also intensified humanitarian concerns in Lebanon, where months of conflict have already caused extensive destruction and displacement.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 2,700 people have been killed in the country since fighting resumed in March.
The casualties include civilians, Hezbollah fighters, and emergency personnel.
Israeli authorities, meanwhile, said 17 Israeli soldiers and two civilians have died since the conflict intensified earlier this year.
The latest developments have once again raised fears of a broader regional escalation, particularly as diplomatic efforts to stabilise the Israel-Lebanon border situation continue to face repeated setbacks.
