IDF Strikes Beirut Southern Suburbs as Iran Pledges Powerful Response

A ceasefire in Lebanon that Iran described as a key deal remained “nowhere close” as the IDF struck Beirut’s southern suburbs with a wave of attacks, according to investingLive.

The investingLive account said Iran pledged a powerful response after Israel struck Beirut, and it cited Iranian lawmaker Rezaei saying there will be a powerful response.

Al Jazeera

In parallel, yalibnan reported that Israel’s military struck alleged Hezbollah command centres in Beirut’s southern suburbs in response to rocket fire on northern Israel, and it said Netanyahu’s office described the strikes as retaliation.

yalibnan also said Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported the Israeli attacks targeted two apartments in two buildings, while Lebanese media reported the strike destroyed two floors of a building between Mreijeh and Hay el-Sellom.

France 24 reported that the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning ordering residents of southern Lebanon to move to the north of the Zahrani River, and it said the army affirmed it would carry out “with great force” operations against Hezbollah in response to what it described as “repeated violations of the ceasefire.”

US President Donald Trump told NBC News that he was not demanding that Lebanon be a part of a short-term deal with Tehran, and he said the US would not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift any sanctions upfront as part of any deal.

The Times of India quoted Trump saying, “no sanctions would be lifted or assets be unfrozen upfront till the peace deal is reached,” while it also reported Trump’s remarks that he would consider unfreezing assets later if Iran “behave[s]” and “do[es] a good job.”

Al-Ain Al-Ekhbariya

investingLive said Trump told NBC that “I would like to see Lebanon experience a better life” and argued for a “more surgical attack against Hezbollah.”

Al-Monitor reported that the United States would host a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, April 23, at the State Department, and it said Israeli Ambassador Yehiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh were expected to participate.

Al-Monitor also said a State Department spokesperson told it, “We will continue to facilitate direct discussions in good faith between the two governments,” as the ceasefire approached its end and a U.S. delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance planned to travel to Islamabad for a second round of talks with Iran.

As negotiations over Iran continued, investingLive said there was “no end in sight to the blockade” because the US was talking about confiscating Iranian funds and giving them to Gulf countries to rebuild, rather than to Iran.

Al-Monitor reported that Trump said the maritime blockade imposed by Washington on Iranian ships “is destroying Iran,” and it added that the United States imposed the blockade on April 13 after the first round of negotiations in Islamabad failed to reach an agreement.

In Lebanon, France 24 said the Israeli army urged civilians in a post on X to stay away from Hezbollah elements, their facilities and weapon sites, and it quoted the army saying “all areas south of the river are considered a combat zone.”

Al-Monitor also said Asharq News Agency reported the American side was expected to press Beirut to repeal its law criminalizing contact with Israel, under which Lebanese citizens are barred from engaging in dealings with Israeli individuals or entities.

Meanwhile, AMAD for الإعلام said health in Lebanon had risen to 3,269 martyrs amid “a dangerous escalation on the Lebanese front,” and it added that an American official said security-track talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place as scheduled.