Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz jointly announced that they have instructed the military to target Beirut’s southern suburbs. This decision follows Hezbollah’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, including attacks on northern Israeli cities with rockets and drones. The United States’ approval allowed Israel to broaden its military operations in Lebanon, extending to airstrikes in the capital city.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that Hezbollah is committed to an immediate ceasefire and urged actions to stop Israel’s military actions. Berri emphasized that the conflict arises from Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon, causing displacement and destruction in various areas. He called for concrete guarantees to ensure Israel ceases its attacks for de-escalation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported capturing Beaufort Castle after entering the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki regions in southern Lebanon. The IDF’s operation aims to establish control over these areas and diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities in the region. Hezbollah was noted to conduct military activities from the Beaufort Ridge and launch attacks from there, as per IDF sources.
Prime Minister Netanyahu further directed the IDF to expand its presence in Lebanon, following an incident where an elite commando unit soldier was killed by a Hezbollah-launched explosive drone in southern Lebanon. Three other soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in the village of Yohmor. Throughout the day, Hezbollah continued launching rockets and drones towards northern Israel, with some intercepted and others landing in unpopulated areas.
The Israeli military confirmed destroying the launcher used by Hezbollah to fire rockets towards Tiberias, a city in northeastern Israel, causing no casualties. The ongoing conflict underscores the volatile situation in the region, with both sides engaged in military actions and countermeasures.
