Israel Strikes Dahieh And Southern Lebanon After Targeting Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander

Israel carried out air strikes on southern Lebanon and hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, Dahieh, after targeting a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

The BBC said the strike hit Dahieh and that Netanyahu personally approved it, targeting a Radwan Force commander at around 20:00 local time (18:00 BST), with local media reporting members of the unit were meeting when the attack happened.

Akhbar.net

Al Jazeera reported that a house in Ain Baal in the Tyre District was hit in an air strike, and that Israel also carried out three air strikes on Dibbin in the Marjayoun District and three attacks on Nabatieh, also in southern Lebanon.

Al Jazeera added that the bombardment came as Israel issued new evacuation orders for three southern towns—Deir al-Zahrani, Bafroa and Habush—after accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, and residents were told to stay at least one kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the towns.

Netanyahu framed the Beirut strike as a security response, telling Telegram that “Radwan terrorists are responsible for shooting at Israeli settlements and harming [Israeli army] soldiers,” and adding “No terrorist has immunity – Israel’s long hand will catch every enemy and murderer.”

Al Jazeera also quoted Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee saying the army had killed more than 220 Hezbollah fighters since the ceasefire took effect last month, and that Israel had destroyed more than 180 military sites belonging to Hezbollah since the start of last week.

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that there had been no reaction from Hezbollah to the Dahieh strike, while it said Israel and Hezbollah continued trading accusations of violating the ceasefire.

The BBC further described the ceasefire context, saying it was the first attack to hit Dahieh since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between the governments of Israel and Lebanon on 16 April.

Lebanon’s health figures and the scale of the conflict were central to the reporting, with Al Jazeera saying Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people since March 2, including dozens since the April 17 ceasefire brokered by Washington.

Anadolu Ajansı reported that Israeli drone and air strikes killed 16 people and wounded 21 others, including paramedics, and that Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 2,702 people and wounded 8,311, while displacing more than 1.6 million, about one-fifth of the population.

The BBC said Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the attacks have killed more than 120 people across the country in the past week alone, and that the ministry does not distinguish combatants from civilians.

On the diplomatic track, Al Jazeera reported that talks between Israel and Lebanon, supported by the US, have continued but largely at the ambassador level, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected a meeting with Netanyahu any time soon.