Netanyahu Orders Strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs Amid Stalled Negotiations
One Israeli soldier was killed and three others were wounded, including one seriously, after being targeted by an explosive-laden drone in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Monday to strike the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. The move suggests an effort to escalate tensions despite ongoing discussions regarding American initiatives aimed at containing the situation and preserving what remains of a fragile truce, while Israeli incursions north of the Litani River continue.
The directive issued by Netanyahu and Katz comes despite the extension of the ceasefire that has been in effect since April 17 and is scheduled to remain in force until early July. It also comes amid ongoing negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv under U.S. mediation.
The Israeli prime minister and defense minister sought to justify their decision by arguing that it followed “repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon by Hezbollah,” while the group’s drones have increasingly become a major concern for the Israeli government.
In the latest development, the Israeli military announced that its forces had taken control of Chqif Castle, a 900-year-old fortress, along with the surrounding strategic hills in southern Lebanon. The operation followed the most intense Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel since the April ceasefire, prompting school closures and the imposition of security restrictions.
Israel is accused of violating the fragile ceasefire agreement on a daily basis through deadly airstrikes that cause civilian casualties and extensive destruction of homes across dozens of villages and towns in southern Lebanon. These actions are accompanied by ground incursions that have reached areas north of the Litani River. In response, Hezbollah states that it launches rockets and drones against Israeli military forces and vehicles in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Israeli officials had previously stated that Washington had asked Tel Aviv not to attack Beirut except in cases of absolute necessity.
One Israeli serviceman was killed and three others were injured, including one seriously, after being targeted by an explosive drone in southern Lebanon.
In a statement released on Monday, the Israeli military said: “Sergeant First Class Adam Tserfati, 20, a soldier in the Maglan Unit, an elite commando formation, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon.” It added: “In the same incident, one Israeli soldier was seriously wounded, while two others sustained minor injuries.”
Although the military provided no further details, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that the casualties occurred during military operations conducted by soldiers from the Golani Brigade in the Yahmour area, located in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon.
The broadcaster stated: “The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m., when the force came under a direct attack from an explosive-laden drone.”
It further reported that immediately after the attack, Israeli military medical teams rushed to the scene to provide first aid to the wounded, while the death of Sergeant First Class Adam Tserfati was confirmed on the battlefield.
In recent months, Hezbollah’s drones have become a growing source of concern for Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu has described them as a “major threat” and called on the military to develop an effective response.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation quoted military commanders as expressing “deep concern” regarding the technological advancements demonstrated by Hezbollah in the deployment of explosive drones equipped with advanced cameras capable of surveillance and operation under low-visibility nighttime conditions, presenting a new challenge for forces operating in the field.
The broadcaster added that the incident comes amid continuing security tensions along the northern front. Recent days have witnessed a series of similar incidents. On Saturday night, Sergeant First Class Michael Toukin, aged 21 and from Ashkelon, was killed in an explosive-drone attack targeting a patrol unit from the Givati Brigade operating near the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, north of the Litani River.
It also reported that Sergeant Rotem Yanai, aged 20 and from the settlement of Givat Ada, was killed last Thursday in an attack carried out by armed operatives using explosive drones against an Israeli military position near the moshav of Goren along the northern border.
