Israeli Airstrike in Beirut Kills Key Hezbollah Official and Three Others
Hassan Bdeir, a senior figure within Hezbollah, among the casualties of an unprovoked airstrike as tensions escalate in Lebanon.
BEIRUT: An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Beirut's southern suburbs early Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including a prominent Hezbollah official, Hassan Bdeir.
The strike occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, impacting the upper floor of a nine-story building situated at the intersection of the Sfeir and Mouawad neighborhoods.
Alongside Bdeir, whose son Ali Hassan Bdeir also perished in the attack, two other fatalities included a woman.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that seven additional individuals sustained injuries as a result of the strike, which inflicted substantial damage to the surrounding area, damaging numerous parked vehicles and other nearby buildings.
This event marks the second Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs within a week, occurring shortly after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah commenced on November 27, 2024. Media channels associated with Hezbollah described Hassan Bdeir as the “deputy head of the Palestinian affairs file” within the organization, identifying him as a central figure coordinating Hezbollah's relations with Palestinian factions.
Reports indicated that Bdeir, known by the alias “Hajj Rabih,” had previous associations with recently assassinated Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri, also targeted by Israel in the same area.
An Israeli military statement asserted that the operation aimed to neutralize a threat posed by Bdeir, whom they accused of orchestrating attacks against Israeli civilians.
Israeli government officials claimed that Bdeir was affiliated with Hezbollah's Unit 3900 and Iran's Quds Force and was allegedly planning an imminent attack.
Israeli security services purportedly possessed intelligence suggesting Bdeir was plotting to target an Israeli aircraft in Cyprus.
The attack was notably the first to occur without prior warning, which has traditionally been issued by Israeli military officials in similar contexts, often providing civilian populations time to evacuate.
Residents of the vicinity expressed shock and fear following the airstrike, with many reporting a sense of disbelief that such an attack could occur during the festivities of Eid Al-Fitr.
Testimonials from local residents indicated a community dawning uncertainty and concern for their safety, with questions arising about the prospect of continued life in an area viewed as a target for such operations.
The strike involved the use of guided missiles, as reported by security sources, leading to the destruction of two residential apartments and damaging two additional floors in the targeted building.
In the aftermath, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department stated that Israel's actions were defensive in nature, referring to previous rocket fire launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
This position was framed within the larger context of ongoing hostilities which had reportedly intensified following the ceasefire.
Reaction from Lebanese officials was swift and condemnatory.
President Joseph Aoun characterized the strike as a significant warning to Lebanon, particularly following recent diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the border with Syria and aligning with international partners.
He emphasized the necessity for Lebanon to bolster alliances that assert its sovereignty against external aggressions.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri labeled the incident as a “blatant act of aggression,” suggesting it was an attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the airstrike as a severe infringement of United Nations Resolution 1701, which reaffirms Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Further condemnation came from Hezbollah lawmakers, including MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, who attributed responsibility for the attack to the international community, particularly the United States and Western nations.
Al-Moussawi stressed the importance of legal frameworks and the need for tangible diplomatic actions beyond mere statements in response to the escalating violence.
The strike occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, impacting the upper floor of a nine-story building situated at the intersection of the Sfeir and Mouawad neighborhoods.
Alongside Bdeir, whose son Ali Hassan Bdeir also perished in the attack, two other fatalities included a woman.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that seven additional individuals sustained injuries as a result of the strike, which inflicted substantial damage to the surrounding area, damaging numerous parked vehicles and other nearby buildings.
This event marks the second Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs within a week, occurring shortly after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah commenced on November 27, 2024. Media channels associated with Hezbollah described Hassan Bdeir as the “deputy head of the Palestinian affairs file” within the organization, identifying him as a central figure coordinating Hezbollah's relations with Palestinian factions.
Reports indicated that Bdeir, known by the alias “Hajj Rabih,” had previous associations with recently assassinated Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri, also targeted by Israel in the same area.
An Israeli military statement asserted that the operation aimed to neutralize a threat posed by Bdeir, whom they accused of orchestrating attacks against Israeli civilians.
Israeli government officials claimed that Bdeir was affiliated with Hezbollah's Unit 3900 and Iran's Quds Force and was allegedly planning an imminent attack.
Israeli security services purportedly possessed intelligence suggesting Bdeir was plotting to target an Israeli aircraft in Cyprus.
The attack was notably the first to occur without prior warning, which has traditionally been issued by Israeli military officials in similar contexts, often providing civilian populations time to evacuate.
Residents of the vicinity expressed shock and fear following the airstrike, with many reporting a sense of disbelief that such an attack could occur during the festivities of Eid Al-Fitr.
Testimonials from local residents indicated a community dawning uncertainty and concern for their safety, with questions arising about the prospect of continued life in an area viewed as a target for such operations.
The strike involved the use of guided missiles, as reported by security sources, leading to the destruction of two residential apartments and damaging two additional floors in the targeted building.
In the aftermath, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department stated that Israel's actions were defensive in nature, referring to previous rocket fire launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
This position was framed within the larger context of ongoing hostilities which had reportedly intensified following the ceasefire.
Reaction from Lebanese officials was swift and condemnatory.
President Joseph Aoun characterized the strike as a significant warning to Lebanon, particularly following recent diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the border with Syria and aligning with international partners.
He emphasized the necessity for Lebanon to bolster alliances that assert its sovereignty against external aggressions.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri labeled the incident as a “blatant act of aggression,” suggesting it was an attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the airstrike as a severe infringement of United Nations Resolution 1701, which reaffirms Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Further condemnation came from Hezbollah lawmakers, including MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, who attributed responsibility for the attack to the international community, particularly the United States and Western nations.
Al-Moussawi stressed the importance of legal frameworks and the need for tangible diplomatic actions beyond mere statements in response to the escalating violence.
