An Israeli airstrike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs early Tuesday, killing four people, including senior Hezbollah official Hassan Bdeir. The strike, which came without warning, targeted an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold and marked the second such attack in five days.
The Israeli military claimed that Bdeir had been working with Iran’s Quds Force and Hamas to plan an imminent terror attack against Israel. Lebanese authorities condemned the strike, with President Joseph Aoun calling it a violation of sovereignty and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam labeling it a breach of the ceasefire agreement.
The attack has further strained the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which was brokered in November after over a year of cross-border hostilities. Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim Moussawi called for diplomatic action but warned that the group is prepared for war if necessary.
