Israel Strikes Beirut After Iran Fires Missiles At Israel, Killing At Least Two

Israel and Iran traded fire in what WHEC described as the most serious confrontation since an April ceasefire, with Iran firing at Israel after warning against Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, including strikes on Beirut on Sunday.

WHEC said Israel’s Beirut strike defied Washington’s request days ago to stand down, and it reported that Israel says it is targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.

Al Jazeera

In Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli air attack on Sunday afternoon hit a densely populated civilian neighbourhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, killing at least two people and wounding 11.

Al Jazeera said Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the army hit a Hezbollah command centre, adding that the strikes were in response to the Lebanese group firing into Israel.

In the same exchange of fire, WHEC reported that Netanyahu said “right now, the fire has been halted,” after Iran fired missiles at Israel late Sunday that were intercepted.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the attack, calling it a “flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” after an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed three soldiers on June 6, Beirut’s military said.

Khmer Times reported that the Israeli military said the vehicle was “moving suspiciously” in an active combat zone but insisted it operates against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not the Lebanese army, adding it is reviewing the incident.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera quoted Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying Tehran would “not only halt the path of negotiations,” but also come “in direct confrontation with the enemy” over violation of agreements regarding Lebanon.

Al Jazeera also reported that a US official told Al Jazeera that Washington “supports Israel’s right to self-defence and stands with the legitimate government of Lebanon.”

WHEC said Turkey is pressing ahead with contacts with both the United States and Iran to end the war, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warning that “It is essential to leave behind this war that has brought our region and the world to the brink of disaster.”

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health figures cited by Al Jazeera said Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people since March 2, and it reported that a further conditional ceasefire announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys last week in Washington was rejected by Hezbollah.

Al Jazeera said Tehran made a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah a condition for any deal to end the wider war, while a US official said another round of security and political talks is scheduled for the week of June 22.

In parallel, the Lebanese Health Ministry toll cited by Shafaqna said the official toll from the Israeli aggression on Lebanon since March 2 rose to 3,593 dead and 10,990 wounded after 35 dead and 120 wounded were recorded in 24 hours.

Shafaqna also said Israel killed 25 Lebanese Army servicemen and wounded 21 others as a result of 26 attacks on southern Lebanon and its east since March 2, with the first on March 7 and the last on June 6.

Naharnet reported that Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said Monday that 29 Lebanese army members have been killed in Israeli strikes since March, and it said a total of 3,613 people have been killed, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.