Ceasefire fractures as Israel strikes Beirut stronghold and issues mass evacuations

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed a targeted strike in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut on Thursday, marking only the second such attack on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire was established last month. The operation, which occurred at approximately 14:00 local time, targeted Ali al-Husni, head of the missile force within the Iranian-backed Imam Hossein Division, according to Israeli media reports citing unnamed sources. Thick smoke was observed billowing from residential buildings in the densely populated Shia stronghold as rescue crews attempted to access the site.

The strike followed a significant expansion of ground operations by Israel, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to increased Hezbollah drone attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and civilians in the north. The IDF stated that Beirut had previously been spared at the request of US President Donald Trump, but the recent escalation in Hezbollah’s ground and aerial activities prompted the decision to resume high-value targeting in the capital.

Concurrent with the Beirut operation, Israeli forces issued their largest evacuation order since the ceasefire took effect, directing residents in approximately 300 towns and villages north of the Zahrani River to leave. The directive covers roughly 14 per cent of Lebanese territory and has placed immense strain on humanitarian infrastructure. In Saida, a coastal city north of the river but south of Beirut, shelters are reported to be at capacity, with officials urging displaced persons to continue moving north despite the lack of clear destinations.

Violence has also intensified in southern Lebanon, where strikes in Tyre killed at least 11 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Social media footage showed significant destruction in the city, including a massive fireball near high-rise residential buildings. In Saida, a missile struck an apartment building early Thursday morning, killing four people, including two displaced individuals and two local residents. A property owner in Saida described the incident as a devastating blow to civilians seeking safety, highlighting the precarious position of non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of repeatedly violating the temporary ceasefire agreement, which has been extended twice since its inception. Israeli officials argue that Hezbollah’s continued attacks constitute a breach of the deal, while Lebanese authorities point to Israeli strikes as the primary violation. This mutual recrimination raises serious concerns that the current escalation could derail broader peace talks aimed at resolving the wider conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Iran has insisted that any comprehensive deal must address the situation in Lebanon, where at least 3,224 people have been killed since the war began on 2 March.