Israel bombs Beirut’s southern suburb as it targets Hezbollah commander
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Israeli forces bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, targeting Ghobeiri, and claimed to have assassinated Malek Balou, a Hezbollah Radwan Force commander, marking the first attack on Beirut since the April 17 truce.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strike, emphasizing that the attack was aimed at militants responsible for attacks on Israeli settlements and soldiers, and vowed to continue such operations to ensure northern Israel's security.
- The attack broke a period of relative calm in Beirut’s southern, predominantly Shia area, where an unspoken agreement had kept the capital largely spared during the ceasefire.
- Despite the truce, Israeli strikes have continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing at least 13 people recently, while Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for operations against Israeli forces and northern Israel.
- Since the conflict began on March 2, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed over 2,700 people, with Israel losing 17 soldiers and a civilian contractor, highlighting ongoing violence despite ceasefire efforts.
