Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in the suburbs of Beirut

The Israeli military conducted a minimum of five airstrikes on the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday, following a statement from Israel’s defense minister that dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire in Lebanon until Israel’s objectives were achieved.

Smoke billowed over Beirut as explosions reverberated through the capital around mid-morning. These blasts came after the Israeli military issued a warning via social media, pinpointing 12 locations in the southern suburbs and indicating that action would be taken against them shortly. The warning also informed residents that these sites were in proximity to Hezbollah facilities.

There were no immediate reports of casualties resulting from the recent strikes. Since Israel commenced its bombing campaign in September, many residents have evacuated the southern suburbs.

In Israel, air raid sirens were activated in parts of the northern region, prompting residents to seek shelter, while the military reported the launch of several “suspicious aerial targets” from Lebanon. No injuries were reported.

The conflict at the Lebanese-Israeli border, which has been exacerbated by the Gaza war, had been ongoing for a year prior to Israel’s offensive in September, which involved extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and the deployment of troops in the southern region.

Israel has inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah over the past seven weeks, resulting in the deaths of many of its senior leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah. The military actions have led to extensive destruction in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs and in border villages in southern Lebanon.

During his first meeting with Israel’s general staff, newly appointed Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Monday that there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon until Israel fulfills its objectives.

“Israel will not consent to any agreement that does not ensure its right to combat and prevent terrorism independently, while also achieving the war’s goals in Lebanon—disarming Hezbollah, pushing it back beyond the Litani River, and ensuring the safe return of northern residents to their homes.”

Earlier on Monday, Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar mentioned that there had been “some progress” in ceasefire discussions, but emphasized that the conflict with Hezbollah was not yet concluded.

The primary obstacle to any ceasefire agreement would be its enforcement, he noted.

Hezbollah has expressed its readiness for a prolonged conflict with Israel and has continued its rocket assaults.

SOUTH OF THE LITANI

The Lebanese government, which includes Hezbollah, has consistently advocated for a ceasefire contingent upon the complete enforcement of a U.N. Resolution that concluded the conflict between the group and Israel in 2006. This resolution stipulates that the region south of the Litani River should be devoid of any weapons except those belonging to the Lebanese state. Both Lebanon and Israel have accused one another of breaching this resolution.

Israel’s military campaign has displaced over 1 million individuals from their homes in Lebanon over the past seven weeks. Since the onset of hostilities a year ago, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have resulted in 3,243 fatalities and 14,134 injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Hezbollah’s assaults have claimed the lives of approximately 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and southern Lebanon during the past year.