A ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Hezbollah collapsed within hours on Wednesday, prompting Israeli airstrikes on a southern suburb of Beirut. The strikes targeted what the Israeli military described as "Hezbollah command centres" in the Haret Hreik district, a densely populated area. Local reports indicate at least 12 fatalities and 30 injuries, with rescue operations ongoing amid destroyed buildings and fires.
The truce, announced just after midnight, had called for a mutual cessation of hostilities to allow for humanitarian corridors. However, Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the terms by maintaining drone surveillance over Lebanese airspace. Within two hours, rocket fire from southern Lebanon resumed toward northern Israel, triggering Israeli retaliation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "Israel will not tolerate any breach of our security. We will respond with force to any aggression."
This escalation marks the most significant breakdown in diplomacy since the conflict intensified two months ago. The United Nations has called for an emergency session, while the EU condemned the violence. The collapse raises fears of a broader regional war, with Iran-backed Hezbollah vowing to continue operations until Israel ceases its offensive in Gaza. The US State Department urged restraint but stopped short of assigning blame, stating it was "deeply concerned by the escalation."
As sirens wailed across northern Israel, residents rushed to shelters. In Beirut, plumes of smoke rose above the bombed district. The international community now faces a critical test: can it salvage a diplomatic process that has unravelled in less than a day?
