Israel’s attacks devastate Beirut and threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire

New attacks Thursday

Israel vowed to press ahead with its campaign in Lebanon, insisting the country was not included in the truce.

It began its latest ground and aerial assault on Lebanon last month after Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel’s north in retaliation for the joint attack on Iran and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Israel Defense Forces said it launched at least 100 strikes within the short span of 10 minutes on Wednesday, its largest barrage of the current conflict.

The IDF said it struck Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays and command-and-control centers, but acknowledged many of its targets were located “within the heart of the civilian population,” accusing the militant group of using civilians as human shields, an assertion frequently repeated in its devastating assault in Gaza.

And Israeli forces launched new attacks Thursday, with Hezbollah also striking northern Israel in retaliation. The militant group said in a statement its “response will continue” until the attacks on Lebanon stop.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “we will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever necessary, until full security is restored to the residents of the north. He said in a post on X that Israeli forces had killed the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, Ali Yusuf Harshi, in the assault.

The sudden escalation in violence follows growing fears over Israel’s vow to model its invasion of southern Lebanon on its deadly military offensive in Gaza.

Israeli forces have destroyed a growing number of homes in the south, as well as bridges across the key Litani River, linking the south to the rest of the country, as it looks to establish a “security zone” in the area.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously said those forced to flee from the south would not be able to return to the area until the safety of Israelis in northern Israel was guaranteed.

Many of the displaced sought shelter in Beirut, only to find themselves once again under fire.

Zoya Awky reported from Zouk Mosbeh, and Chantal Da Silva from London.