Beirut (EFE).- Israel shelled the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahieh Thursday, for the fourth time since the ceasefire came into effect six months ago.
This followed the army issuing evacuation orders for three different neighborhoods in the area.
Four explosions rocked the capital’s suburbs at intervals beginning about an hour and a half after the warnings were issued. According to EFE, the explosions targeted buildings in the Al Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Bourj el-Barajneh areas.
In a brief statement, Israel Defense Forces confirmed the start of its bombing of targets belonging to Hezbollah’s air unit in Dahieh but did not provide further details.
Before the attacks, the Jewish state asked the population to evacuate several areas of the suburbs, issuing a statement that warned it would “soon” reach a drone production facility belonging to the Shiite group.
“Despite agreements between Israel and Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces have identified Hezbollah’s air unit as operating to produce thousands of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the direction and funding of Iranian terrorists,” the statement read.
A large number of residents fled amid warnings and shots fired into the air to alert them to the threat, resulting in traffic jams as people tried to leave the area.
A Hadath resident who requested anonymity told EFE she had left her house in a hurry, as she had done during the 2024 conflict.
“I’m afraid of losing my house. I’m pregnant, and I have nowhere else to go with my family,” she said. She is now sheltered on the outskirts of Beirut.
The attacks came the night before Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, an important Muslim holiday for which families had begun to prepare.
Despite a ceasefire agreed between the parties in late November, Israel has continued to bombard Lebanon relentlessly, mainly focusing on the southern region of the country but occasionally reaching the east and the suburbs of Beirut.
On Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli bombardment of the suburbs of Beirut as a “flagrant” violation of the ceasefire agreement reached six months ago, warning that Lebanon would never “submit” to such actions.
In a statement, he denounced this flagrant violation of an international agreement, as well as of the basic principles of international and humanitarian law and resolutions, on the eve of a sacred religious occasion as overwhelming proof that the perpetrators reject the requirements for stability.
“It is a message that the perpetrators of these atrocities are sending, primarily to the United States and its policies and initiatives, via the mailbox of Beirut and the blood of its innocent civilians. Lebanon will never submit to this,” added the head of state. EFE
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