Lebanon Reports 3,491 Israeli Strikes Since Ceasefire Started
Lebanon's Defense Minister reported Israel has conducted 3,491 airstrikes since the April 17 ceasefire began, displacing nearly one-fifth of the population as tensions escalate.
Michel Menassa informed the Lebanese Cabinet on Monday that Israel has executed 3,491 airstrikes against targets in Lebanon since the ceasefire began on April 17, according to Breitbart News. The defense minister also documented 407 controlled demolitions of structures in southern Lebanon, alongside six larger-scale operations that razed entire neighborhoods.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam shared Menassa’s report on social media following the cabinet meeting, warning that the sustained bombing campaign has generated a flood of internally displaced persons threatening to exceed northern Lebanon’s refugee management capacity. Current estimates indicate that nearly one-fifth of Lebanon’s population has been displaced by the conflict that began when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in early March.
IDF Maintains Operations Under Ceasefire Terms
The Israel Defense Forces did not issue an immediate detailed response but restated that military action remains necessary to neutralize the ongoing threat from Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials maintain such operations fall within the parameters of the April 17 ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire arrangement, technically classified as a short-term cessation of hostilities, was initially designed to last ten days but has been extended through the end of June. The agreement was negotiated between Israel and Salam’s government, though Hezbollah declined to participate. The terrorist organization stated it would not enter ceasefire negotiations until Israel withdrew all forces from southern Lebanon and continued launching rockets at Israel throughout the period, prompting sustained IDF responses.
First Strikes on Beirut Suburb Mark Escalation
Menassa’s cabinet report acknowledged that the ceasefire had succeeded in reducing Israeli strikes on northern Lebanon and Beirut until this past weekend, when Israel conducted its first two airstrikes on the Dahieh suburb of the capital. The area serves as a Hezbollah stronghold.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the airstrikes targeted terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh district and were launched in response to Hezbollah’s continued firing at Israeli territory. The Israeli military issued a warning on its Arabic-language social media account that operations would continue.
Iranian Missile Attack Adds New Dimension
Iran escalated the regional conflict by launching ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday, marking the first direct Iranian attack since the April ceasefire agreement. Tehran claimed the strike was retaliation for Israel hitting the Beirut suburbs. Israel and Iran exchanged multiple volleys of fire on Sunday and Monday.
Prior to the Dahieh strike, the Lebanese government had already been protesting the intensity of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, Lebanese state media reported that three Lebanese army members were killed when their vehicle was struck by Israeli ordnance. One of the deceased was reportedly a brigadier general, though names were not released.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the IDF action as a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and international law, describing the Israeli operation as an ongoing escalation threatening stability and security in the south.
The IDF defended its action, stating it operated on concrete indications that Hezbollah was preparing to attack Israeli soldiers in the strike area, and noted the vehicle was moving suspiciously toward an Israeli position.
Tehran Threatens Further Action
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced Monday that it would halt missile launches at Israel but reserved the right to resume attacks if the IDF does not cease operations against Iran’s proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Iran’s military described its missile attack as a response to Israeli operations in southern Lebanon and the Dahieh area, which it claimed were supported by America. The statement emphasized that the Zionist regime and its supporters must learn a lesson from the missile attack, which was largely intercepted by Israeli defenses.
Tehran warned that armed forces operations are currently halted but stressed that continued aggression in southern Lebanon would trigger much more severe and crushing actions than before.
With information from Breitbart News
