Israel attacks Beirut in first attack in months, says it targeted Hezbollah militants

Israel’s military said it had attacked Hezbollah’s chief of staff in the first airstrike in Beirut since June.

The military did not offer further details. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech at a government meeting on Sunday that Israel “will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its threatening capabilities against us.”

“This is also how we operate in Gaza: Hamas constantly violates the ceasefire and we act accordingly, regardless of anyone,” he said, adding at the end: “Israel is responsible for its security.”

Hezbollah said the attack, launched almost exactly a year after the ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah ended, threatened an escalation of attacks.

Mahmoud Qamati, vice president of Hezbollah’s political council, told reporters that a high-ranking militant may have been killed, but gave no details.

“Hezbollah’s leadership is studying the issue of response and will make the appropriate decision,” Qamati said at the scene of the attack. “Today’s attack in the southern suburbs opens the door to an escalation of attacks throughout Lebanon.”

Israel did not issue any evacuation warning before the attack.

Smoke could be seen in the busy Haret Hreik neighborhood, and a video circulating on social media showed dozens of people crowded around the strike area, which appeared to be in an apartment building.

There was no immediate information on the victims.

The strike in the south of the capital occurs days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the country and Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks.

Israel and the United States have been pressuring Lebanon to disarm the powerful militant group. The Lebanese army issued a government-approved plan that would disarm Hezbollah.

Israel says Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese government has denied those claims.