Illustrative image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Israel unleashed one of its strongest attacks against Lebanon on April 8, killing or wounding hundreds of people, just hours after a two-week ceasefire with Iran entered into effect.
The Israeli Air Force struck 100 targets within 10 minutes, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which said in a statement that the targets hit in the capital, Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon included Hezbollah command centers and other military infrastructure.
The military claimed that among the targets were intelligence headquarters and offices used by Hezbollah to plan attacks on Israeli troops and civilians; infrastructure of the group’s rocket and naval units; and assets of the group’s elite Radwan Force and aerial unit.
“This is the largest attack carried out against Hezbollah’s infrastructures since the start of Operation Roaring Lion,” the military added.
The IDF acknowledged that most of the sites were located “within the heart of the civilian population,” but accused Hezbollah of exploiting “Lebanese civilians as human shields in order to safeguard its operations.”
The Sayyida Fatima Al-Zahra religious and social complex in the southern city of Saida was targeted, as well as a cemetery and several multi-story residential buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah more known as Dahiyah.
In a follow up statement, the IDF said that the attack was not “closing strikes,” and stressed that the ceasefire with Iran will not affect operations against Hezbollah.
“We will continue to strike the Hezbollah terror organization and seize every opportunity. We will not compromise on the security of northern residents. We will continue to attack without pause,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is quoted as saying by the military during the strikes.
The military added that the massive wave of strikes was planned regardless of the ceasefire in Iran, and the timing is coincidental.
Defense Minister Israel Katz also stated that the IDF’s large attack targeted “hundreds of Hezbollah operatives.”
“Hundreds of Hezbollah operatives were targeted in surprise strikes at headquarters across Lebanon, in the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since the pager operation,” he said, referring to the exploding pager attack that targeted Hezbollah members in 2024.
Katz added that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem was warned that “Hezbollah would pay a very heavy price for attacking Israel on behalf of Iran, and his personal turn will also come.”
Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said that the Israeli attack killed or wounded hundreds of people across the country.
Meanwhile, Georges Kettaneh, secretary general of the Lebanese Red Cross, described the situation as “catastrophic,” with many people still trapped under rubble and entire buildings collapsed in multiple areas
He added that patients are being evacuated from hospitals in Beirut to facilities outside the capital to make room for casualties from the ongoing strikes.
Ahead of the deadly Israeli attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Iran, the U.S. and “their allies” agreed to “an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire at the time, but stressing that it does not cover Lebanon.
In its first comment on the ceasefire, Hezbollah called on Lebanese civilians not to return to areas of Lebanon that the IDF ordered to be evacuated, “before the official final announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon.”
“Today we stand on the threshold of a great historic victory, which will be achieved thanks to the sacrifices of the fighters, the blood of the martyrs, and your unmatched steadfastness and patience,” the group said in a statement.
“We call on you in these decisive moments for more patience, steadfastness and waiting, and not to go to the villages, towns and targeted areas in the south, Beqaa [Valley], and the southern suburbs of Beirut before the official final announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon,” it added.
Later, Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim Al-Moussawi warned of a response from Iran and its allies if Israel “does not adhere to a ceasefire.”
“The agreement includes Lebanon, according to its terms, and Iran insisted on this inclusion,” Al-Moussawi told local television channel Al-Jadeed.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed by the U.S. and Iran, saying he hopes his country will be included in the regional truce.
Aoun said that his government has “continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner,” according to a statement from the presidency.
Later, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on his country’s friends to help put an end to the Israeli attack.
In a statement, Salam said that while Beirut “welcomed the agreement between Iran and the United States and intensified our efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, Israel continues to escalate its attacks.”
“All of Lebanon’s friends are called upon to help us stop these attacks by all available means,” he added.
All in all, Israel is clearly taking advantage of the ceasefire with Iran to escalate against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The latest attack was likely the first of many to come. While Iran has so far restrained itself, a military response against Israel can’t be ruled out.
This is for sure one way Israel is attempting to sabotage the American-Iranian talks set to take place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on April 9.
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zio scumbags are running out of time. ⏲️
there is no need to have ceasefire nonsense with killer natayahu hehs to be bomb continuasly.blood for blood
i swallowed hillbilly jizz while mulatto pumped jizz in my americunt anuz yesterday–now i feel like donny trumpstein
genocidal epstein coalition is working hard to turn every setback towards oportunity
i dream of someone cleansing these satanic scum from earth, but everyone seems to be a part of or controlled by the same club