Lebanon thought there was a ceasefire – then Israel unleashed deadly blitz

Lebanon thought there was a ceasefire – then Israel unleashed deadly blitz

Ceasefire Agreement and Immediate Strike

Peace was expected to hold after US President Donald Trump declared a two-week ceasefire to end the Middle East conflict. Yet, just as relief settled in, Israeli jets launched a 10-minute aerial assault across Lebanon. The attack resulted in at least 203 deaths and over 1,000 injuries, per Lebanon’s health ministry. Local and Western leaders quickly condemned the strike, but the US remained silent on its ally’s actions.

“A grave violation” of the ceasefire deal, Iran criticized the Israeli aggression, calling for the US to halt the operation.

War Origins and Escalation

The conflict began on 28 February with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering retaliation from Tehran against Gulf allies and attacks by Iran’s proxies—Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen—on Israel. In response, Israel targeted Hezbollah and expanded its military presence in Lebanon. A pause in hostilities was brokered by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated between the warring factions.

Sharif stated the agreement included an immediate ceasefire “everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere.” However, Israel’s government claimed the deal excluded Lebanon, citing Hezbollah as the reason. Trump echoed this, noting the Lebanese conflict was “a separate skirmish.”

Attack Details and Impact

At around 14:00 in Beirut (11:00 GMT), the skies darkened as Israeli jets executed a coordinated strike, targeting over 100 Hezbollah sites in Beirut, Bekaa, and southern Lebanon. The operation struck densely populated areas of central Beirut, with officials calling it the heaviest bombardment since Hezbollah joined the war in March. The city center, not just Hezbollah’s traditional stronghold in Dahiyeh, was hit.

Reports of casualties emerged from multiple regions, including the Bekaa valley, Nabatieh, Sidon, and Tyre. Hezbollah’s response came hours later with rocket fire toward Israel. On Thursday, Israeli forces claimed to have killed “70+ terrorists” and eliminated Ali Yusuf Harshi, the secretary to Hezbollah’s leader Naim Qassem. However, the BBC has not confirmed these claims.

Casualties and Reactions

Beirut’s atmosphere on a crisp morning reflected the tragedy, as the city observed a day of national mourning. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted civilians were among the victims, describing the toll as “martyrs and wounded.” President Joseph Aoun called it a “massacre.” Search operations are ongoing in areas like Tallet el Khayat, a wealthy western Beirut neighborhood where a 10-story residential building was destroyed.

“This is new to Beirut,” said Ziad Samir Itani, leading the civil defense team. “Teams are exhausted after six weeks of constant attacks.”

Despite the devastation, Lebanon’s officials reported over 1,700 deaths since Israel’s latest campaign began. The war’s cycle of strikes and retaliation continues, with no clear end in sight.