Israel strikes southern Beirut suburbs after attacks attributed to Hezbollah

Israel carried out a strike on Sunday against infrastructure believed to belong to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, following the firing of projectiles toward northern Israel. This attack has reignited concerns about a further escalation in the conflict that has now lasted for several months between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite movement.

According to Israeli authorities, two projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The army claims to have intercepted them after warning sirens sounded in several northern locations, including Yiftah and Ramot Naftali.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister stated in a joint press release that they ordered the strike in response to the rocket fire. Israel claims to have targeted Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in the Dahiyeh area, a traditional stronghold of the movement in the Lebanese capital.

Lebanese state media reported at least two deaths and eleven injuries. Local authorities did not specify the identities of the victims, and no independent confirmation could establish whether those injured were affiliated with Hezbollah.

This strike comes as a ceasefire announced under US mediation on April 16 had led to a reduction in Israeli bombing of Beirut's southern suburbs. Despite this truce, clashes have continued in southern Lebanon, where exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah remain frequent.

Lebanese security sources indicated that many residents who had recently returned to the Dahiyeh district have once again left the area for fear of a resumption of intensive bombing.

For its part, Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for several operations against Israeli forces present in Lebanon in recent days, but has not claimed responsibility for the projectile firing that preceded the strike on Beirut.

This latest confrontation raises fears of an escalation of the conflict at a time when tensions remain high throughout the region. Diplomatic efforts undertaken in recent weeks have so far failed to secure a lasting cessation of hostilities between the two sides.