Israeli military attacked Hezbollah militia targets in Lebanon on Friday, shooting two projectiles toward north Israel, which the army said was intercepted.
“The IDF attacked the terrorist infrastructure not long ago,” the IDF wrote on its telegram channel.
It said the hit is “in the Dahieh area, the main Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut.”
DPA reporters confirmed on the spot that they could see black smoke after hearing two explosions.
It is not clear whether there were any casualties.
Israel warns drone before strike
Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV reported three warnings for drone strikes before the big attack.
Local media reports show that at least two buildings rose to the ground after the attack.
IDF Arab spokesman Avicay Adraee issued a warning to residents near Al Hadath shortly before the strike that the suburbs of Beirut (the stronghold of Hezbollah) had evacuated some buildings in the area.
This is the first warning from Israeli troops to residents of southern Beirut’s suburbs since the ceasefire in November.
Shortly after the warning appeared, people were found to drive out what the Israeli army said.
According to witnesses, the car line was seen leaving the Al Hadath area. DPA reporters observed that people panic when parents are anxious to pick up their children from school.
The Israel Defense Force said earlier: “Two rockets were launched from Lebanon to Israel. One of them was intercepted, while the second rocket was intercepted, while the second rocket fell within Lebanese territory.”
Hezbollah: Not us
Hezbollah denied any connection to rocket shooting.
Lebanese security sources said an alarm was heard in northern Israel near the Lebanese border.
Sources said two loud explosions were heard in southern Lebanon.
The same source told the DPA that Israeli troops retaliated by shelling a series of villages in southern Lebanon.
Israeli shells fell on Qaqaait al-Jisr, Khiam and Kfar Kela earlier on Friday. Israeli drones have also been heard flying over villages in several areas of southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut.
The Lebanese Civil Defense and Health Ministry said four people were killed and at least four were injured in Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon, French officials condemn strike
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salan warned in a new statement following a strike in southern Beirut that the danger escalated.
NNA reports that Salam condemned the attack on “civilians and safe residential areas.”
He added that the school and university are also located there.
He said Israel must stop violating the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah and withdraw troops from Lebanon as soon as possible.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli action after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
He wrote on X that he regretted any attempt at Lebanon to fall into a “spiral of violence.” He called on the international community to take action quickly.
Macron said the attack on the Beirut suburbs and “actions that are non-compliant with the ceasefire are unilateral actions that violate the promise and play the role of Hezbollah.”
“At this point, I can tell you that there is no activity that justifies these strikes.”
A ceasefire has been established in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militias since November.
The deal paused fierce cross-border shelling for more than a year, and sales intensified when Israel launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon in October.
On October 7, 2023, the conflict broke out after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel and subsequent wars in Gaza.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli forces will be completely evacuated from southern Lebanon. However, they still have five strategic points that the Lebanese government believes violates the ceasefire agreement.
Lebanese soldiers gathered at the scene of the Israeli strike in southern Beirut. Israel has carried out its first air strike in southern Lebanon since November 19 after the defense minister threatened Beirut against the new Recenwed Rocket Fire, further exacerbating a fragile truce that largely ceased hostilities with Hezbollah. Marwan Naamani/DPA
People gathered at the location of the Israeli strike in southern Beirut. Israel has carried out its first air strike in southern Lebanon since November 19 after the defense minister threatened Beirut against the new Recenwed Rocket Fire, further exacerbating a fragile truce that largely ceased hostilities with Hezbollah. Marwan Naamani/DPA
Waste of smoke from areas bombed by Israeli forces in southern Beirut. Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatens the Lebanese capital Beirut, as the rockets are pushed out from Lebanon to Israel, endangering the ongoing truce between the two countries since November last year. Marwan Naamani/DPA
