The Israeli military launched a strike on southern Beirut on Friday, marking the first such attack since November, after accusing Hezbollah of firing two projectiles from Lebanon into Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed targeting a Hezbollah site in the Dahieh area, describing it as a “terrorist infrastructure site used to store UAVs by Hezbollah’s Aerial Unit.” The IDF accused Hezbollah of embedding its operations within civilian areas, calling it a “cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields.”

Hezbollah denied launching the rockets and reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire with Israel. Prior to the strike, the IDF issued evacuation orders to residents near the targeted area in southern Beirut, warning them to move at least 300 meters away for their safety. The Lebanese government suspended classes in the area, evacuating schools and staff following Israel’s warning.

Israeli forces also struck multiple locations across southern Lebanon, targeting what it called “Hezbollah command centers, terrorist infrastructure sites, launchers, and terrorists.” An attack on Kfar Tebnit killed three people, including a woman, and injured at least 18 others, according to Lebanon’s state news agency NNA.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Beirut would “be treated the same” as Kiryat Shmona, the northern Israeli town allegedly hit by the projectiles. “If there is no peace in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee communities, there will be no peace in Beirut either,” Katz said in a statement.

The Lebanese army reported discovering a rocket launch site near the border and announced an investigation into the incident. It condemned Israel’s strike as a “blatant and repeated violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” calling it a breach of international law and the ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah suggested the rocket attacks were a pretext for further Israeli aggression, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated his government was in contact with U.S. officials to reinforce the November ceasefire. “There is a ceasefire in place, and both sides are expected to respect the agreement,” Aoun said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a forceful response to any threats, declaring, “We will attack everywhere in Lebanon against any threat to the state of Israel.” The strike comes amid rising tensions following months of relative calm after the ceasefire. Since the truce, Israel has conducted numerous strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, with cross-border attacks persisting for over a year. The November 2024 ceasefire reduced violence, but Israel maintains a military presence in southern Lebanon despite agreeing to withdraw under the deal.