Israel Strikes South Beirut in New Attack

Escalation of Conflict in Beirut

Israel launched a new strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut late Sunday, targeting infrastructure associated with Hezbollah. The military stated that the attack was part of ongoing operations following previous raids primarily in the southern regions of the country. The midnight strike was reported by Jendela Magazine correspondents in the capital, coming after an evacuation warning issued by the Israeli army for the same area. This region has been repeatedly targeted over the past two weeks.

Shortly after the raid, the Israeli military announced on social media that it was “currently striking Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Beirut.” On Sunday morning, a Jendela Magazine photographer in south Beirut observed empty streets covered in debris and buildings that had been flattened, with smoke still rising from the aftermath of previous strikes.

Lebanon became entangled in the Middle East conflict on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Since then, Israel has conducted air raids on neighboring areas and carried out troop incursions into border zones.

Lebanese authorities reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks has reached 850, with more than 830,000 people displaced. Approximately 130,000 of these displaced individuals are staying in collective shelters. Heavy rain on Sunday added to the suffering of those who have been sleeping outdoors or in tents near central Beirut’s seafront.

Nader, a 42-year-old coffee shop owner displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs, shared his concerns about the destruction. He mentioned having rebuilt his home after the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict and fearing its potential destruction again. “Here we have nothing, and the situation is very bad with the heavy rains and wind—its very cold, lots of babies are sick, and we can’t protect them,” he said.

No Talks in Sight

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that its peacekeepers were fired upon three times on Sunday, likely by non-state armed groups. This follows a similar incident two days earlier, where a different position was hit, and Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) attributed the attack to Israel.

Israel has not planned direct talks with Lebanon to end the current conflict with Hezbollah, which has been ongoing for two weeks. This statement came after a Lebanese official indicated that Beirut was preparing a delegation to negotiate with Israel. The NNA reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south and east on Sunday, while Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks on sites in Israel and on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah also claimed to have fired an “advanced missile” at the Palmachim air base south of Tel Aviv. The NNA reported that Israel struck “an apartment in a residential building” in a northern district of the coastal city of Sidon, resulting in one death and a fire. A Jendela Magazine correspondent observed damage to an apartment building as the army cordoned off the area while rescue teams fought the blaze and residents rushed into the street, some carrying belongings.

A Hamas source told Jendela Magazine that the strike killed Wissam Taha, an official from the Palestinian militant group. Israel has frequently targeted Hamas in Lebanon in recent years, especially during previous hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah linked to the Gaza war and after a 2024 ceasefire.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has proposed direct negotiations with Israel, but Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded with a “no” when asked if Israel would hold such talks.

Maritime Border Deal Under Scrutiny

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen called for the cancellation of a US-brokered 2022 maritime border deal with Lebanon, stating that the promise of improved security for Israel under the agreement had not been fulfilled. A Lebanese official had previously told Jendela Magazine that the country was preparing to form a delegation to negotiate with Israel, though no details on the agenda, timing, or location had been decided yet.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, offering to host negotiations. In the village of Al-Qatrani, southeast of Sidon, the Lebanese health ministry reported five deaths from an overnight strike, increasing the previous toll of three. Israel’s military claimed to have targeted “several Hezbollah launch sites” there.

Additionally, the Israeli army stated that it had destroyed “command centres” belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in Beirut.