Israeli strikes rained down on residential areas and estates in central Beirut today without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced between the US and Israel.
Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its conflict with the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah Lebanonhowever.
Just this afternoon, Iran said it would withdraw from the US ceasefire agreement if Israel continues to violate it by attacking Lebanon.
Today, the IDF launched more than 100 strikes on Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley.
Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital, and booms interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a blue-sky afternoon, as ambulances raced towards open flames.
At least one apartment building was struck as emergency responders searched charred vehicles. There was no sign of Hezbollah launching strikes against Israel in the first couple of hours after the attacks.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
It was not immediately clear how many people were killed or wounded, but several strikes were in busy commercial locations, causing panic in the streets.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in Beirut’s central and coastal areas.
Lebanon’s minister of social affairs, Haneed Sayed, said the strikes were in the ‘heart of Beirut’ where half of the internally displaced people had been.
She said Lebanon’s government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the president previously made.
Israel has not responded.
Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after that US and Israel attacked Iran, resparking a lengthy regional conflict.
Israel responded with widespread bombing of Lebanon and a ground invasion, and claims to have killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.
Israel has killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children, in the attacks. More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon.
Early on Wednesday, after the ceasefire in Iran was announced, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon began packing their belongings in preparation to return to their homes.
That was before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the military would press on in Lebanon.
At a sprawling displacement camp on Beirut’s waterfront, families whipped by the conflicting statements expressed confusion and despair.
‘We can’t take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty,’ said Fadi Zaydan, 35.
He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh before Mr. Netanyahu’s comments stopped them in their tracks.
‘But we’ll be targeted if we go home,’ Mr Zaydan said.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: The politicians gunning to remove Trump from power with the 25th Amendment
MORE: Keir Starmer urged to ‘stand up’ for Brits jailed in UAE during his Gulf visit
MORE: Iran’s ‘beautiful toll’ will see ships pay up $1,000,000 to pass Strait of Hormuz
