Strikes Hit Near Beirut
Israel launched a wave of strikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday, May 28, and carried out a rare raid near Beirut, placing further pressure on an already fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities said the strike in Choueifat, south of the capital, hit an apartment and killed three people, including a woman, her baby daughter and a child of Syrian nationality. Fifteen others were wounded, among them women and children. Israel’s military said it had carried out a precise strike in Beirut, but did not identify the target.
Ceasefire Faces New Pressure
The raid near Beirut followed heavy bombardment across southern Lebanon, where authorities reported at least 14 deaths, including children. The escalation comes ahead of planned military discussions involving Lebanese and Israeli delegations at the Pentagon, followed by another round of US-mediated negotiations next week. The ceasefire, which was expected to reduce fighting after the latest phase of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, has remained under strain, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations.
Southern Lebanon Under Fire
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes in Nabatieh, Tyre and Sidon. Health officials said a strike in Tyre killed two Syrians, including a child, while another attack in Sidon killed five people, including two women. A vehicle strike in Adloun killed six people, including two children and their parents. Lebanon’s military also said one of its soldiers was killed in a separate strike while driving in the Nabatieh region.
Israel declared areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River as combat zones and ordered residents to evacuate, including parts of Tyre and Nabatieh. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks and evacuation orders, describing them as collective punishment. The United Nations said it was deeply concerned and urged both sides to respect the ceasefire. UNIFIL said Wednesday saw around 670 projectiles fired, the highest level since April 17. The latest violence highlights the risk that the Israel-Lebanon conflict could widen further unless ceasefire violations are contained through diplomacy.
