Lebanon’s Defense Minister Reports Ongoing Airstrikes by Israel
On Monday, Lebanon’s Defense Minister, Michel Menassa, stated that since the US-mediated ceasefire began on April 17, Israel has conducted a staggering 3,491 airstrikes on various targets within Lebanon.
During a Cabinet meeting, Menassa mentioned that Israel had systematically destroyed 407 buildings in southern Lebanon, along with performing six major demolition operations that leveled entire neighborhoods.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took to social media after the Cabinet session, highlighting that this extensive bombing campaign could potentially lead to a surge in internally displaced individuals, straining northern Lebanon’s capacity to manage refugees. It’s estimated that nearly 20% of Lebanon’s population has been uprooted due to the conflict initiated by Hezbollah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond immediately but reiterated its obligation to neutralize the threat posed by Iranian-supported Hezbollah terrorists in the region, a stance it claims is within the framework of the ceasefire agreement.
This ceasefire is technically a temporary cessation of hostilities, initially set for just ten days but now extended until the end of June. The agreement was brokered between Israel and Salam’s administration, but Hezbollah has refused to take part. Also, the IDF continued its operations, asserting that it wouldn’t engage in ceasefire talks unless Israel withdraws completely from southern Lebanon and ceases its attacks.
Menassa reported that the ceasefire had, until recently, diminished Israeli assaults on northern Lebanon and Beirut, although the first two airstrikes of the renewed conflict were targeted at the Dahieh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained that these airstrikes aimed at “terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh area,” responding to Hezbollah fire into Israeli territory.
The Israeli military made clear through its Arabic-language social media that it would persist in its operations.
On another note, Iran escalated tensions by launching a ballistic missile at Israel on Sunday, marking the first overt act from Iran since the ceasefire was agreed upon in April. Iran claimed this attack was retaliation for an Israeli airstrike near Beirut. This led to exchanges between Israel and Iran over the weekend.
Even prior to the Dahieh incident, the Lebanese government expressed dissatisfaction with the intensity of Israeli bombardments on southern Lebanon. On Saturday, Lebanese media reported that an Israeli artillery strike hit a Lebanese army vehicle, resulting in the death of three personnel, including a brigadier general, though the identities of the deceased remain undisclosed.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the IDF’s actions, labeling them as a severe violation of Lebanese sovereignty and international norms, and pointed out that this situation escalates instability in the southern region.
The IDF defended its actions, citing credible intelligence suggesting that Hezbollah was preparing to attack Israeli forces nearby, claiming that the vehicle involved moved suspiciously toward their positions.
In a statement on Monday, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a temporary halt to missile attacks on Israel but warned that operations could resume if the IDF continued its actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Iranian military released a statement indicating that the recent aggression from Israel, supported by the United States, prompted their missile retaliation, asserting the need for both the “Zionist regime and its supporters” to “learn lessons” from the attacks.
Iran emphasized that while military operations would cease for now, any future aggression would provoke even harsher responses.
