For the first time since a November ceasefire, Israel attacked Lebanon’s capital city on Friday.

Associated Press reporters reported a loud explosion in Beirut and saw smoke rising from the southern suburbs, an area Israel’s military had threatened to target.

While Israel has consistently attacked southern Lebanon, this marks the first strike on Beirut since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect last November.

The Israeli army reported hitting a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, which they called a militant stronghold, after warning residents to evacuate, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields.

The targeted area is residential and commercial, situated near at least two schools.

Israeli officials stated the attack was in response to rockets allegedly fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, and threatened continued strikes on Beirut unless acted to prevent such attacks.

“We will not tolerate attacks on our communities, no matter how small,” stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will strike anywhere in Lebanon that poses a threat to Israel.”

Hezbollah denied firing rockets and accused Israel of seeking a justification for further attacks on Lebanon.

The Lebanese government closed all schools and universities in Beirut’s southern suburb of Hadath for the day as residents fled the area before the strike.

Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones, and missiles into Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which initiated the Gaza war and resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of 251 people.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated into a full-blown war last September when Israeli airstrikes killed most of the militant group’s senior leaders, resulting in over 4,000 deaths in Lebanon and displacing around 60,000 Israelis.

The ceasefire required Israeli forces to withdraw from all Lebanese territory by late January, which was later extended to Feb. 18. However, Israel has remained in five border locations and has carried out numerous strikes on alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes killed six people in Lebanon last week.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, speaking from Paris, described the Beirut strike as a continuation “of Israel’s violations of the agreement” brokered by France and the U.S.

French President Emmanuel Macron, during a joint press conference with Aoun, condemned the attack as “unacceptable” and promised to discuss it with Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting the U.S. could pressure Israel.

A U.S. State Department spokeswoman urged the Lebanese government to take action.

“Israel is defending its people and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon,” said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. “We expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further hostilities.”

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, warned that the escalation has created “a critical period for Lebanon and the wider region.”

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli strikes in other parts of Lebanon on Friday killed three people and injured 18, including women and children, in the southern village of Kfar Tibnit.

These strikes come less than two weeks after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas with surprise attacks in Gaza, killing hundreds. Israel also recently halted deliveries of essential supplies to Gaza’s approximately 2 million residents.

Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, and demands that the group relinquish power, disarm, and send its leaders into exile.

Hamas has stated it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 50,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.

The ministry reported that nearly 900 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire ended in mid-March, including more than 40 in the last 24 hours.

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