Israeli Strike Hits South of Beirut as Lebanon Reports Deadly Raids

(MENAFN) According to reports, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Beirut area on Thursday, with Lebanese military sources stating that an apartment was hit south of the capital in what marks the second such raid since a ceasefire announcement in April.

The Israeli military said it “precisely struck in Beirut” but did not disclose the intended target. A Lebanese military source, speaking anonymously to AFP, said the strike hit an apartment in the Choueifat area on the outskirts of the capital.

The escalation comes ahead of scheduled military-level talks between Lebanon and Israel at the Pentagon on Friday, followed by US-mediated negotiations early next week, which would be the fourth round of discussions since the renewed Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2.

Earlier in the day, Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people, including three children, amid intensified bombardment in the south.

According to reports, Hezbollah responded by launching rocket and drone attacks targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Israeli authorities had earlier declared areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River—including cities such as Tyre and Nabatieh—as “combat zones,” urging civilians to evacuate ahead of expanded military operations.

The region has seen escalating strikes in recent days, with Israeli forces reportedly expanding ground operations and increasing aerial attacks across southern Lebanon.

Footage from AFP showed smoke rising from the southern outskirts of Beirut, an area widely regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold.

The ceasefire agreement announced on April 17 has remained largely unimplemented, with both Israel and Hezbollah continuing to accuse each other of violations and using those claims to justify ongoing military actions.

MENAFN03062026000045017281ID1111204296