Israeli military said earlier Tuesday it had already launched a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the second attack near the Lebanese capital in less than a week.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, building hopes that the deadliest war in Lebanon may have ended. But recent strikes have prompted fears that a truce will collapse.
The Israeli military said the latest strike was the latest in the Dashiya region in the southern suburb of Beirut, targeting a Hezbollah agent who directed and assisted Hamas in planning a “major and imminent” attack on Israel.
The military said on social media that Israel’s actions were to eliminate the operating room because he posed a “direct threat.” It added that the Dahia region is the main stronghold of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese armed group and political party.
Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the semi-official page on the social media platform Telegram.
On Friday, the Israeli military launched air strikes in the same area and ordered residents in densely populated communities to evacuate. The attack comes hours after Lebanese territory fired rockets into northern Israel.
Hezbollah denied being involved in the attack on Israel and said it remains committed to a ceasefire. The Israeli military said it targets a location where Hezbollah drones are stored.
Also on Friday, at least three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, which did not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Hezbollah, along with Palestinian allies, launched rockets and drones at Israeli positions and launched a war at Gaza sites after Hamas led the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The battle escalated into a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon.
