Israeli Strikes Target Beirut Ahead of Security Cabinet’s Vote on Hezbollah Ceasefire

On Tuesday evening, Israel conducted multiple air strikes on Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, merely hours before its security cabinet was anticipated to endorse a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. These operations resulted in seven fatalities after a building in the city sustained a direct hit. Additionally, two dozen strikes were directed at southern suburbs and central districts, targeting locations the Israeli military identified as Hezbollah infrastructure sites and financial facilities. Concurrently, Hezbollah persisted in launching rockets into Israel, amidst growing optimism for an imminent announcement of an accord to conclude more than a year of hostilities. The proposed agreement outlines a 60-day ceasefire, during which Israeli forces are to withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah combatants are to relocate from the area south of the Litani river. Plans also include the deployment of thousands of Lebanese Army personnel and the establishment of an international committee tasked with overseeing the ceasefire’s execution. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, immediately preceding the Israeli security cabinet’s deliberation on the ceasefire proposal, Israeli warplanes executed what was described as the most extensive series of air strikes to date in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Numerous columns of smoke were observed ascending from Dahieh, a known Hezbollah stronghold, following the Israeli military’s issuance of evacuation advisories for 20 structures. In a statement, the military declared it had hit 13 Hezbollah targets within Dahieh, encompassing an aerial defence unit center, intelligence and command centers, weapons storage facilities, and other infrastructure. An