Israel Strikes South Beirut, Vows Continued Attacks Until Hezbollah Disarmed

Israel has intensified airstrikes on southern Beirut, targeting what it claims are Hezbollah's underground drone factories, prompting mass evacuations and widespread damage in the densely populated suburbs. The strikes, occurring despite a November 2024 ceasefire, have been condemned by Lebanese leaders as a major violation that endangers civilians, especially with the attacks coinciding with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that military operations will continue with great force until Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, is fully disarmed, emphasizing that there can be no stability in Lebanon without Israel's security. Iran condemned the attacks as an aggression against Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Israeli military coordinated these operations with the United States and placed missile defenses on high alert in anticipation of potential Hezbollah retaliation. Regional leaders and humanitarian groups have called for restraint to prevent further escalation and regional destabilization.