Middle East: Serious attacks ahead of expected ceasefire in Lebanon

Shortly before a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel’s military and the Hezbollah militia continued their attacks on each other. Israel’s air force carried out heavy attacks on targets in the heart of the capital Beirut and in suburbs. The Hezbollah militia also continued to fire rockets at Israel from Lebanon. After more than a year of war, Israel’s cabinet was expected to approve a 60-day ceasefire this evening.

An Israeli official spoke about the possibility in the Times of Israel. The German Press Agency learned from government circles that the cabinet’s approval of the agreement negotiated under US mediation was “probable”. Lebanese government sources in Beirut also expressed optimism. The decision rests with Israel.

Israel’s attacks in Beirut: at least seven dead

Before that, the Israeli Air Force intensified its attacks. According to the army, they are primarily intended to weaken Hezbollah’s ability to recover from the attacks of the past few months, to re-arm and reorganize.

A building was attacked in the center of Beirut, eyewitnesses and security circles reported. According to the Ministry of Health, at least seven people were killed and at least 37 were injured. Israel’s military had not previously issued a warning.

Israel launched massive attacks in the suburbs known as Dahija, a stronghold of the Hezbollah militia. Eyewitnesses reported one of the worst waves of attacks since the escalation of war between Hezbollah and Israel. Parts of the suburbs were in flames. An Israeli military spokesman had issued warnings for around 20 buildings in Dahija.

The Israeli army said 20 “terrorist targets” were attacked in the Beirut area, including 13 in Dahija. These include a Hezbollah air defense center, command and intelligence centers, ammunition depots and financial facilities of the pro-Iranian militia.

Agreement on ceasefire expected for 60 days

US National Security Council communications director John Kirby had previously said they were close to agreeing a ceasefire. It’s going in the right direction. “But it’s not done yet,” Kirby said. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saw a ceasefire “within reach,” as she said at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy. The federal government worked intensively on this with “closely coordinated shuttle diplomacy”.

The present agreement provides for a 60-day implementation period that should allow Israel’s military to withdraw, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Lebanese officials. The Lebanese army should also be stationed in the border area with Israel to prevent Hezbollah fighters from gaining a foothold there again. An international commission should monitor compliance with the agreement with the UN peacekeeping force Unifil, which has been stationed in Lebanon for years, it said.

Minister: Violations of the ceasefire would be punished severely

Even after a ceasefire, Israel wants to take tough action in the event of militia violations. “We will act against any threat, anytime and anywhere,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to his office, at a meeting with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert: against any house that is newly converted into a terrorist base, against any rearmament of Hezbollah and against any attempt to smuggle weapons.

According to the military, Israeli ground troops reached the symbolic Litani River during their advance in southern Lebanon. As part of the expected ceasefire, Israel wants Hezbollah to permanently withdraw behind the river, 30 kilometers from the border – as stipulated by UN Resolution 1701, which marked the end of the previous war in 2006.

Hezbollah attacks in Israel: At least one house hit

The Hezbollah militia fired rockets at Israel again. Security regulations were tightened in northern Israel, and schools were ordered to remain closed in some areas because of fears of increased rocket fire. In Kiriat Shmona, near the border, a house was directly hit and damaged, Israeli media reported. There were initially no reports of injuries.

Hezbollah, which is financed by Iran, said it wanted to use the attacks to force an end to the Israeli offensive against the Islamist terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and allied groups carried out massacres in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were kidnapped hostage. The attack triggered the Gaza war that has been going on for more than a year. Since then, Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas, has fired more than 17,000 rockets into Israel, the army said on request.

During the same period, Israel’s military attacked around 12,000 terrorist targets in Lebanon, it said. Most of Hezbollah’s leaders were killed. In total, more than 3,000 people died in Lebanon as a result of Israel’s counterattacks.

In both countries, tens of thousands of people are waiting to return to their homes once the fighting has ended.