Israel carries out airstrikes on south Lebanon on Eidul Azha holiday

Israel bombed the Lebanese capital in a targeted attack on southern Beirut, an area it claims is the center of Hezbollah’s underground drone-manufacturing facilities. According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah is allegedly building thousands of drones in the area, a claim used to justify the latest wave of airstrikes.

The attack occurred on the eve of Eid al-Adha, when residents were busy preparing for the holiday. This timing has drawn sharp criticism, as families in Beirut were caught off guard during one of the most significant religious occasions in the Muslim calendar.

This marks the fourth time Beirut has been bombed since the US-brokered ceasefire agreement signed on November 27, 2024. The Israeli military has conducted multiple strikes across Lebanon over the past month alone.

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the bombing, calling it “Israeli aggression” and a “flagrant violation of an international accord … on the eve of a sacred religious festival.”

Residents in the neighborhoods of Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Burj al-Barajneh, located in Beirut’s southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, received warning messages from Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, urging them to evacuate.

Despite these warnings, the sudden attack led to chaos as people rushed through traffic and crowded markets to find safety.

According to reports from Al Jazeera, around 100 housing units were destroyed in southern Beirut during the strikes. The densely populated nature of the capital poses a high risk of civilian casualties in any military action.

The Israeli military continues to cite Hezbollah’s presence and activities as the reason for its repeated airstrikes. In addition to aerial attacks, Israel currently occupies five strategic positions in southern Lebanon as part of its broader military strategy.

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While the Lebanese government decries the bombings as violations of national sovereignty, Israel, on the other hand, maintains that its strikes are “preemptive” and intended to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping and launching attacks.

So far, the ongoing Israeli assault has killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, most of them civiliansand displaced approximately 1.2 million residents. Meanwhile, the escalation has resulted in the deaths of 80 Israeli soldiers and 47 Israeli civilians.