The Israeli Air Force attacked several underground sites in Beirut’s southern suburbs late Thursday that it said were being used by Hezbollah for drone production.
The attacks in the city were the fourth since Israel and Lebanon reached a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement on Nov. 26.
The airstrikes, which began shortly after 10 p.m., were carried out after the IDF gave advance warning for the evacuation of eight buildings at four sites.
The attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut known as the Dahiyeh targeted several underground drone manufacturing facilities belonging to Hezbollah’s aerial forces, according to the military.
“This activity is a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement. “The Hezbollah terror organization creates challenges for the Lebanese state and thus impairs the implementation of the understandings.”
The Israeli army said that Hezbollah was “working to produce thousands of drones under the guidance and financing of Iranian terrorist groups.”
Hezbollah “used drones extensively in its attacks against the State of Israel and is working to expand its drone industry and production in preparation for the next war,” the army statement said.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes.
Aoun called them a “blatant violation of an international agreement, as well as the basic principles of international and humanitarian laws and resolutions,” and said they demonstrate Israel’s “rejection of the requirements of stability, settlement and just peace in our region.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the Air Force for “perfect execution” of the strikes and said Israel will “continue to enforce the ceasefire rules without any compromise.” He said Israel holds the “Lebanese government directly responsible for preventing violations of the ceasefire and all terrorist activity against the State of Israel.”
Hezbollah and Israel were locked in a nearly year-long war after the terrorist group started firing rockets and missiles at Israel the day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacres near Gaza.
Last year, Israel killed thousands of Hezbollah terrorists, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, and demolished much of its arsenal, severely crippling the organization.
Since the latest conflict ended, Hezbollah has come under increasing pressure to give up its remaining arsenal.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is required to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River and dismantle all military infrastructure in Southern Lebanon.
