Israel Strikes Beirut Again... "Attacks Continue Despite Ceasefire Talks"

On the 16th (local time), Israel once again conducted airstrikes on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This came just six days after the attack on the 10th that killed at least 22 people. It was also only a day after the United States expressed concerns about the expansion of the Israeli military front in the Middle East region. The Israeli military also attacked the city hall in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. They clearly stated that even if they enter ceasefire negotiations with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, the attacks will continue.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to the New York Times (NYT) and others, the Israeli military announced in a statement that they carried out two airstrikes in the Dahieh area on the southern outskirts of Beirut on the same day. This occurred about an hour after an Israeli military spokesperson issued an urgent warning in Arabic for residents to evacuate to at least 500 meters away from buildings in the area. The Israeli military explained that the airstrikes targeted weapons stored in underground facilities by Hezbollah.

The NYT reported, "This area, which suffered heavy damage during the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, is currently controlled by Hezbollah," and added, "Since last month, Israel has repeatedly attacked this surrounding area to assassinate Hezbollah leadership and destroy weapons storage facilities." The media also cited the human rights organization Amnesty International, noting that such urgent warnings have become frequent this week and are mostly issued during hours when most residents are asleep, thus not leading to evacuations.

In particular, the airstrikes occurred immediately after the United States expressed concerns about civilian casualties resulting from Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. On the previous day, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated in a briefing, "We have clearly conveyed to the Israeli government that the nature and scope of the bombing operations seen in Beirut over the past few weeks are concerning and opposed by us." Along with this, the Joe Biden administration warned that if Israel does not improve the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where it is also engaged in another war, within the next 30 days, U.S. military aid could be suspended.

The Israeli military continued intense airstrikes in southern Lebanon on the same day. In the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon, at least 10 airstrikes targeting the city hall and other buildings resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including the mayor and paramedics. At least 15 people died in southern Kana. Attacks on UN forces' bases were also confirmed. Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported that the airstrikes targeted not only the city hall but also residential buildings and universities. On the same day, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced in a statement that the Israeli military shelled the UNIFIL tower stationed in Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL criticized it as "yet another direct and deliberate attack targeting UNIFIL." Israel has openly demanded the withdrawal of UNIFIL stationed in Lebanon.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The international community has voiced strong condemnation of Israel for expanding the front from Gaza to Lebanon and other areas. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL), composed of 22 Arab countries, condemned Israel's airstrike targeting the city hall in southern Lebanon, calling it "an indiscriminate attack targeting civilians and critical infrastructure." Secretary-General Gheit warned, "This is part of a calculated attempt to replicate the brutal Gaza scenario in Lebanon," adding, "Unimaginable crimes are being committed in Gaza. If the international community allows such a scenario to be repeated in Lebanon, it will be complicit in the crimes."

The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also adopted a joint statement demanding an "immediate and complete ceasefire" in the Middle East conflict during a summit held in Belgium on the same day. Amid worsening Middle East tensions, the EU agreed on the need to respect international law and international humanitarian law at this meeting. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in the House of Commons that sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers are under consideration. The 16 EU countries that have deployed troops to UNIFIL decided in a defense ministers' video conference to exert maximum pressure on Israel to prevent further damage to UNIFIL forces stationed in Lebanon. These 16 countries' troops account for more than one-third of the UNIFIL forces stationed in Lebanon.

However, Israel stated that even if it enters ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah, the attacks will not stop. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the 146th Reserve Division on the same day and said, "Hezbollah is in great trouble," adding, "We will only negotiate under fire." Minister Gallant also said they will continue fighting Hezbollah until all residents of northern Israel, who are currently displaced, safely return home. Israel declared the start of the "Northern Arrow" operation on the 23rd of last month by bombing Hezbollah bases across Lebanon and has been engaged in ground combat in southern Lebanon for the first time in 18 years since the 30th of last month.

Meanwhile, concerns continue over the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It has been confirmed that the United States sent a warning letter urging Israel to take relief measures, and related issues were discussed at the United Nations Security Council meeting held on the same day. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN attending the meeting, expressed concern about the obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza and urged the international community, saying, "It is time to act. Stop the genocide."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, who has defended Israel's position at the Security Council, warned regarding allegations that Israel is implementing a "starvation policy" by blocking relief supplies to root out Hamas, stating, "The so-called 'starvation policy' is horrific, unacceptable, and will have consequences under international law and U.S. law." Spokesperson Miller said at the State Department briefing that some progress has been made with Israel regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it is still insufficient.