Israeli Airstrike on Beirut Targeting Hezbollah Raises Alarm over Regional Stability

On Sunday afternoon, Israel launched an airstrike in a residential area of southern Beirut, specifically targeting the Dahiya neighborhood, known to be a stronghold of Hezbollah. According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the operation was aimed at infrastructure used by the group, particularly facilities for storing precision missiles connected to Iran. The officials emphasized that Israel is committed to preventing Hezbollah from increasing its military capabilities and warned that Dahiya would not be a safe haven for the militant organization.

In response to the attack, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's actions, stating that they threaten regional stability and security. Aoun urged the international community, including France and the United States—who have been involved in overseeing a cease-fire since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified in November—to take action to halt Israel's military aggression. He labeled the airstrikes as unacceptable violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hezbollah has yet to issue an official response to this latest assault, but the situation remains tense, with fears that renewed hostilities could jeopardize the fragile cease-fire that had brought a temporary respite from violence in the region.