Israel strikes Hezbollah HQ in Beirut in retaliatory firing
Jerusalem, June 7
The Israel Defense Force on Sunday struck a 'terrorist headquarters' in the Dahieh district of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah's firing at Israeli territory.
"In accordance with the directive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has just struck terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh district of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah's firing at Israeli territory," the Israeli Prime Minister's office said on social media platform X.
The Israeli military also warned the residents of the city of Tyre to evacuate their homes and move north of the Zahrani River.
"In light of the terrorist Hezbollah party breaching the ceasefire agreement, the Defence Army is compelled to act against it forcefully. The Defence Army does not intend to harm you," an IDF spokesperson said on X.
"We are addressing specifically those present in the city of Tyre and the camps: Al-Bass and Zakuk Al-Mufdi. Everyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and their combat means is endangering their life!" he added.
On Friday, the IDF said that it detected surface-to-air missile launches by Hezbollah, targeting Israeli Air Force aircraft.
The IDF added that the incident concluded with no injuries or damage to the aircraft.
The launch activated air raid sirens in the city of Kiryat Shmona and eight villages in northeast Israel, close to the Lebanese border, sending thousands of residents rushing to shelters.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has been in direct contact with Hezbollah as part of efforts to stabilise Lebanon and reduce tensions across the Middle East, offering a rare public acknowledgement of engagement with the Iran-backed group.
Trump told a reporter at the White House that progress had been made in discussions aimed at reducing violence in Lebanon, which he described as closely linked to broader regional developments involving Iran.
The comments came after a reporter noted that Hezbollah had reportedly rejected a US-backed peace proposal in Lebanon and asked about the status of negotiations.
"Yeah, what does reject mean? They didn't reject," Trump said.
The US President then disclosed direct communication between Washington and Hezbollah.
"Look, they're looking. I think Hezbollah -- I will tell you, they called us and they said, how about stopping?" Trump said.
"And I think you're going to see things happen over there."
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who follows Middle East conflicts, I'm surprised Trump admitted direct talks with Hezbollah. That's a major shift. India must be watching carefully - our energy ties with Iran and growing Israel relationship make this region crucial.
Yeh sab kuch dekh ke lagta hai ceasefire ka koi matlab nahi. Hezbollah khud US ke saath baat kar raha hai? 🤔 India should stay neutral but protect our nationals in Lebanon. Koi aur update hai?
The evacuation warnings to Tyre civilians show Israel trying to avoid collateral damage - but why strike a densely populated area in the first place? This ping-pong of strikes helps no one. India's policy of non-interference seems wise here.
Trump saying Hezbollah "called us" is classic Trump - making it sound like a business deal. But this shows US is deeply involved. India must balance: strong Israel ties vs. Iran relations. Tough spot for our diplomats.
Surface-to-air missiles from Hezbollah targeting Israeli jets - this is a serious escalation. Israel has every right to respond. But why target Beirut again? Could have hit military positions in south Lebanon instead. Praying for peace in the region. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.