BEIRUT (AP) – The Lebanese army issued a condemnation on Friday regarding Israel's recent airstrikes on the suburbs of Beirut. The army warned that such actions are undermining the role of Lebanon's armed forces and threatened to suspend cooperation with the U.S.-led committee overseeing the ceasefire that concluded the Israel-Hezbollah war.
This statement from the Lebanese army followed a series of airstrikes carried out by the Israeli military, which targeted multiple buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli military claimed these buildings housed underground facilities utilized by Hezbollah for drone production. The strikes were conducted with prior warnings for residents to evacuate, taking place just before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The Lebanese army noted that it had initiated coordination with the ceasefire monitoring committee after receiving Israel's warning about the intended strikes. However, Israel reportedly dismissed a suggestion from the Lebanese army to search the targeted areas in advance.
The U.S.-led committee responsible for supervising the ceasefire—established after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war concluded in November—comprises representatives from Lebanon, Israel, France, the United States, and the United Nations peacekeeping forces known as UNIFIL.
In its statement, the Lebanese army declared, "The Israeli enemy's violations of the deal and its refusal to respond to the committee is weakening the role of the committee and the army." It added that ongoing attacks by Israel could result in the Lebanese army ceasing its cooperation with the committee regarding area inspections.
Since the ceasefire was enacted, Israel has reportedly conducted nearly daily airstrikes targeting Hezbollah operatives within Lebanon. Beirut's southern suburbs have faced multiple strikes during this period.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel initially ignited on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in support of Hamas amidst rising tensions in Gaza. Israel’s retaliation via airstrikes and shelling soon escalated into a sustained low-level conflict, which transformed into a full-scale war in September 2024.
This prolonged conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 individuals in Lebanon, including numerous civilians. The Lebanese government reported in April that Israeli airstrikes had killed an additional 190 people and injured 485 since the ceasefire agreement was reached.
There is mounting pressure on Hezbollah, both domestically and internationally, to relinquish its remaining weapons. However, officials from the group have stated their refusal to disarm until Israel halts its airstrikes and withdraws from five contested points still occupied along the southern Lebanese border. Hezbollah claims to have complied with the ceasefire agreement by ending its military presence along the border south of the Litani River.
