Israel strikes Beirut after Beaufort, tensions high in Lebanon amid raids and diplomacy

The crisis between Israel and Hezbollah entered a new phase following the capture of the Beaufort Fortress in southern Lebanon by the Israel Defense Forces. In the aftermath of the advance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that they had ordered the IDF to strike targets in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, considered one of the areas where Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed movement, exerts strong political and military influence.

Netanyahu and Katz's order

In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz justified the decision by what Israel calls Hezbollah's "repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon" and attacks on Israeli cities and citizens. The two Israeli government officials then instructed the Israel Defense Forces to strike what Tel Aviv calls "terrorist targets" in the Dahiyeh district, on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital.

Beaufort called a turning point by Israel

The capture of the Beaufort Fortress was presented by Netanyahu as a decisive step in the military campaign against Hezbollah. The Israeli prime minister described it as a "fundamental turning point" and expressed the desire to "strengthen and extend" Israel's control over areas that, according to Tel Aviv, were previously under the influence of the Lebanese Shiite movement. The fortress, strategically located in southern Lebanon, dominates the Nabatieh area and the connecting routes to Tyre and Sidon.

A symbolic and strategic site

Beaufort is not only a significant military point, but also a place of great historical and symbolic value. Perched on the heights of southern Lebanon, the fortress has played a strategic role for various armies over the centuries. The IDF had already occupied it during the 1982 Israeli invasion, maintaining a presence there until its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Israel's return to the area therefore takes on particularly significant political and military significance in the current escalation.

Rockets intercepted and drone shot down

Meanwhile, the IDF reported that two rockets fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon toward northern Israel were intercepted. The Israel Defense Forces also reported shooting down a drone, believed to belong to Hezbollah, in an area of ​​southern Lebanon where Israeli troops are operating. According to the Israeli version, these incidents confirm the persistence of hostile activity despite the formal ceasefire in effect.

An Israeli soldier killed near Beaufort

Tensions escalated further after an Israeli soldier was killed in a drone strike overnight in southern Lebanon. According to the Israeli army, a drone carrying a camera and explosives, attributed to Hezbollah, struck a site in the city of Yohmor, near the Beaufort Fortress, where IDF troops were stationed, around 1:00 a.m. The explosion killed one soldier and injured three others.

Injured evacuated by helicopter

The IDF said one of the wounded soldiers is in serious condition, while two others suffered minor injuries. The wounded were airlifted to the hospital, and their families have been notified. The attack confirmed Hezbollah's ability to target Israeli units in southern Lebanon, even at a time when Israel claims to have expanded its control over several strategic areas of the territory.

Dahiyeh under threat of raid

The announcement of the attacks on Dahiyeh has fueled renewed concerns for Beirut's civilian population. The southern suburb of the Lebanese capital is considered by Israel to be a Hezbollah stronghold, but it is also a densely populated area. According to regional media, following the Israeli threats, many civilians began to leave the area, causing heavy traffic jams on the roads leading out of the neighborhood.

Aoun accuses Israel of aggression

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced what he called a "ferocious and condemnable aggression" by Israel. In a message published on X, Aoun said Lebanon is facing a new military escalation and vowed to work to "end the suffering of the Lebanese people in general and the population of the South in particular." The president's comments come as Beirut seeks to bring the crisis to the forefront of international diplomatic debate.

The urgent meeting of the UN Security Council

The situation in Lebanon will be the focus of an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, convened at France's request. Paris has expressed grave concern over the expansion of the Israeli offensive and its advance deep into Lebanese territory. French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that nothing justifies the serious escalation underway in southern Lebanon, calling for a cessation of hostilities.

The diplomatic front remains open

On the diplomatic front, the United States is trying to foster a new agreement to halt the escalation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Netanyahu and Aoun, while new political negotiations are expected in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese delegations. According to reports, Washington aims to build a negotiating sequence that includes a cessation of Hezbollah's attacks against Israel and, in parallel, a de-escalation of Israel's escalation in Beirut.

Tajani urges Israel to trust UNIFIL

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also addressed the crisis, appearing on "Morning News" on Canale 5. Tajani stated that Hezbollah bears "great responsibility" for continuing to launch missiles against Israel, but added that Israel should place greater trust in UNIFIL, work more closely with the United Nations, and strengthen the role of the Lebanese regular army. The minister highlighted President Aoun's profile, calling him a man of balance and close to Italy.

Italy's role in stabilizing Lebanon

Tajani then explained that Italy must play a leading role in the next phase, with the aim of contributing to the stabilization of the Lebanese government and strengthening the national army. The minister recalled Italy's commitment to training the Lebanese Armed Forces through a bilateral mission separate from UNIFIL. For Rome, strengthening the Lebanese army remains one of the key tools for promoting Hezbollah's disarmament and reducing the risk of a new open war.

US and Iran negotiations intertwined with the Lebanese crisis

Tensions in Lebanon are also intertwined with negotiations between the United States and Iran for a possible broader agreement in the Gulf region. Donald Trump wrote in Truth that Iran "really wants to reach an agreement" and that it would be a good deal for the United States and its allies. Washington has reportedly requested changes to the draft agreement, particularly regarding Iranian nuclear material still present and guarantees regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial hub for global energy traffic.

Tehran ties the agreement to the truce in Lebanon

For Iran, a ceasefire in Lebanon is being cited as an essential condition for any agreement with the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has argued that a truce in Lebanon must be an integral part of any final agreement to end the war. Tehran also continues to reiterate its support for Lebanon and the "Lebanese resistance," while accusing Israel of conducting an illegal aggression.

An ever-widening regional crisis

The new Israeli offensive in Lebanon thus risks further widening a crisis already spreading across multiple fronts. On the one hand, Israel claims it wants to respond to Hezbollah attacks and prevent further threats against its territory; on the other, Beirut denounces a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and calls for the international community's intervention. Caught in the middle are civilian populations, particularly in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, exposed to the risk of new raids, displacement, and further instability.

An increasingly fragile ceasefire

The ceasefire, already considered fragile and repeatedly violated by mutual accusations from both sides, now appears close to a new breaking point. The capture of Beaufort, the order to strike Dahiyeh, the drone attack against Israeli troops, and the convening of the UN Security Council mark a crucial day for Lebanon's future. The possibility of de-escalation will depend on the ability of diplomatic pressure to contain the offensive and bring the conflict back within a credible negotiating framework.