Israel Strikes Beirut, Shakes Fragile Ceasefire with Hezbollah
Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh on March 28, 2025, targeting a Hezbollah truck and drone depot, military officials confirmed. Thick smoke rose over the crowded residential area, home to hundreds of thousands, as residents fled in panic.
The strike, the first on the Lebanese capital since a November 27 ceasefire, threatens a truce that ended 14 months of conflict, killing over 3,900 and displacing one million in Lebanon.
Hours before, Israel issued evacuation orders via social media, marking a building near two schools in red and urging people to move 300 meters away. Residents reported hearing a massive explosion echoing through nearby mountains, while some fired guns into the air to warn others.
The Israeli military claimed the strike hit a truck transporting weapons and a warehouse storing drones, key assets in Hezbollah’s Iran-backed arsenal. The attack followed rocket fire from Lebanon targeting northern Israel earlier that day, which Hezbollah denied launching.
Tensions flared as the ceasefire, brokered to halt daily rocket exchanges and Israeli bombardments, already faced strain from prior violations. Over the past week, 18 died in southern Lebanon from Israeli strikes, and United Nations peacekeepers tallied thousands of breaches, mostly by Israel.
Hezbollah’s Dahiyeh Stronghold Faces Uncertainty
Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, buzzed with chaos as families abandoned homes, unsure of the group’s next move. Analysts note Hezbollah’s drones and rockets, numbering thousands before the war, bolstered its regional clout.
Yet, Israel’s campaign since October 2023 killed an estimated 3,800 fighters, slashing its strength. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, visiting Paris, warned the strike could reignite violence, urging global pressure on Israel.
The ceasefire aimed to disarm Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and return 60,000 displaced Israelis home, but both sides accuse each other of noncompliance.
Business leaders eye the instability, fearing disrupted trade routes and a $11 billion rebuilding cost for Lebanon. As smoke clears, the world watches whether this strike unravels a brittle peace or signals a new chapter in a decades-long feud.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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