Israel strikes Beirut’s suburbs to target what it says is Hezbollah drone production

BEIRUT AP The Israeli military struck several sites in Beirut s southern suburbs that it mentioned held underground facilities used by Hezbollah for drone production Thursday on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday The strikes marked the first time in more than a month that Israel had struck on the outskirts of the capital and the fourth time since a US-brokered ceasefire agreement ended the latest war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in November Related Articles Russian strike kills in Ukraine including a -year-old hours after Trump-Putin call How numerous hostages are left in Gaza Governments scramble to understand Trump s latest passage ban before it takes effect Monday Trump says after Xi call that US and China will resume commerce talks NATO is set to approve new military purchases as part of a major defense spending hike Israel posted a warning ahead of the strikes on X formerly known as Twitter announcing that it would hit eight buildings at four locations Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon since the ceasefire which Lebanon has mentioned are in violation of the agreement Israeli functionaries say the strikes are intended to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping after a war that took out much of its senior leadership and arsenal The Israeli army mentioned in a comment that Hezbollah was working to produce thousands of drones under the guidance and financing of Iranian terrorist groups Hezbollah used drones extensively in its attacks against the State of Israel and is working to expand its drone industry and production in preparation for the next war the army report explained There was no immediate announcement from Hezbollah A Hezbollah official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly denied that there were drone production facilities at the targeted locations In the ceasefire agreement there is a mechanism for studying if there is a complaint the official explained Israel in general and Netanyahu in particular wants to continue the war in the region The conflict killed more than people in Lebanon including hundreds of civilians while the Lebanese leadership commented in April that Israeli strikes had killed another people and wounded wounded since the ceasefire There has been increasing pressure on Hezbollah both domestic and international to give up its remaining arsenal but officers with the group have commented they will not do so until Israel stops its airstrikes and withdraws from five points it is still occupying along the edge in southern Lebanon