Beirut strike targeted precision missiles, says Israel
Beirut strike targeted precision missiles, says Israel
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs following an Israeli strike. Photo: Reuters
The Israeli army said on Sunday it struck a southern Beirut building being used to store precision missiles belonging to Hezbollah.
The attack was a further test of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group.
"Under the instruction of Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the (military) has strongly attacked infrastructure in Beirut where Hezbollah's precision-guided missiles were stored," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.
In a separate statement, the military said it hit the site in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah.
"The storage of missiles in this infrastructure site constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, and poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians," the military said.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
The latest strike adds to strains on the US-brokered ceasefire that ended last year's devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
"Today's strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut generated panic and fear of renewed violence among those desperate for a return to normalcy," Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said on X.
"We urge all sides to halt any actions that could further undermine the cessation of hostilities understanding and the implementation of SCR 1701," she added, referring to the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike and called on the United States and France, as guarantors of the ceasefire agreement struck in November, to compel Israel to stop its attacks. (Agencies)
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