Lebanon thought there was a ceasefire – then Israel unleashed deadly blitz

Lebanon Thought There Was a Ceasefire – Then Israel Unleashed Deadly Blitz

The expectation of quiet was shattered just hours after a two-week ceasefire was touted as a breakthrough. US President Donald Trump had declared an agreement to halt the Middle East conflict, but Israeli jets quickly reversed the calm with a 10-minute aerial assault. At least 203 people were killed and over 1,000 injured in the strike, as per Lebanon’s health ministry. The attack hit densely populated areas, marking one of the heaviest bombings since Hezbollah’s involvement in early March.

The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking retaliation from Tehran against Gulf allies and attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen. In response, Israel intensified operations, even occupying significant parts of the country. The ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was meant to provide a pause. However, Israel’s government denied Lebanon’s inclusion, citing Hezbollah as the reason for the exclusion.

Iran Condemns Israeli Actions

Iran called the attack a “grave violation” of the ceasefire and urged the US to stop the aggression. Lebanese officials reported over 1,700 deaths since the recent Israeli campaign. The IDF claimed it targeted “100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command centers” in Beirut, Bekaa, and southern Lebanon. Yet, the BBC could not confirm all claims, including the elimination of Ali Yusuf Harshi, Hezbollah’s secretary to Naim Qassem.

Shattered Expectations in Beirut

At 14:00 in Beirut (11:00 GMT), the skies darkened with the start of the assault. The city center, along with neighborhoods like Dahieh, faced devastating strikes. A 10-storey residential building in Tallet el Khayat, a affluent area, was reduced to rubble. The attack came without warning, surprising residents in a region rarely targeted.

Beirut’s streets, usually bustling, were quiet as the nation observed a day of mourning. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the casualties as “martyrs and wounded,” while President Joseph Aoun labeled it a “massacre.” Civil defense teams, exhausted from six weeks of relentless Israeli attacks, scrambled to recover bodies. Ziad Samir Itani, leading the effort, called it “new to Beirut,” highlighting the shock of the event.

Israel maintained its operations, stating it had killed “70+ terrorists” and targeted Hezbollah’s leadership. Despite the destruction, the US remained silent, with Trump emphasizing that the conflict in Lebanon was “a separate skirmish.” The negotiations, set to continue in Pakistan, seemed to hinge on the 15-point US plan and Iran’s 10-point counter-proposals. The ceasefire’s fate now depends on whether the parties can reconcile their differing views on Lebanon’s role in the war.