Israeli Army Launches Surprise Attack on Beirut During Ceasefire, Israeli Media Claims Hezbollah Elite Commander Killed
On May 6, Xinhua News Agency reported from Jerusalem (reporters Pang Xinyi and Feng Guorui) that the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed on the evening of the 6th that, with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, the Israel Defense Forces conducted an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, targeting a commander of the elite Hezbollah unit, the Radwan Brigade.
This is the first airstrike by Israel on Beirut since the ceasefire took effect on April 17.
According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli military assessed that the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Brigade has been killed in the strike.
At midnight local time on April 17, a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect. However, Israel continued to launch attacks, citing violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah. On the 23rd of that month, both sides held a second round of ambassador-level talks at the White House, after which U.S. President Trump announced on social media that the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel would be extended for three weeks.
The Israeli Defense Forces conducted an airstrike in Beirut on May 6, 2023, targeting a commander of Hezbollah's Radwan unit. This strike marks the first military action in Beirut since the ceasefire began on April 17, 2023. Israeli officials reported that the targeted commander was killed in the operation, which was justified as a response to alleged violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah.
- Israeli airstrike occurred in Beirut on May 6, 2023.
- Target was a commander of Hezbollah's Radwan unit.
- This was the first airstrike in Beirut since the ceasefire on April 17, 2023.
- The Israeli military assessed that the commander was killed in the strike.
- The airstrike was justified by Israel as a response to Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire.