An Israeli airstrike struck southern Beirut on Sunday, targeting a Hezbollah facility reportedly storing precision-guided missiles, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“The IAF struck a terrorist infrastructure site containing precision Hezbollah missiles in the area of Dahieh, a key Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut, a short while ago,” the IDF said in a statement posted on X. “Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming uninvolved civilians, including issuing advance warnings to the civilian population in the area and using precise munitions.”
Israel’s military said the targeted site violated ceasefire agreement and posed a direct threat to Israeli civilians.
Footage circulating on social media showed smoke rising over the Hadath neighborhood shortly after 6:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. ET). Lebanese Civil Defense reported no injuries.
It does appear Hezbollah’s victory tent in Beirut was targeted by the IDF. Pieces of it are propelled toward the sky following the strike. pic.twitter.com/QOAOeGk3s1
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 27, 2025
The extent of the damage remains unclear, but videos circulating on social media show that the strike created a massive crater and damaged nearby houses.
Locals gather by massive crater inspecting damage to their homes following IDF’s strikes on #Beirut.
Lebanon appeals to US and France to take ‘responsibility’ as guarantors of cease fire and ‘compel Israel’ to stop its attacks.
Israeli media says US was informed before the… pic.twitter.com/KC9XvTOrgo
— Mats Nilsson (@mazzenilsson) April 27, 2025
The Lebanese presidency condemned the attack and urged the United States and France, brokers of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in November to intervene. “Israel’s continued undermining of stability will exacerbate tensions,” President Joseph Aoun said in a statement.
United Nations Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the strike “generated panic and fear of renewed violence” and urged restraint from all sides.
The attack was the first in nearly a month against Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Despite the November ceasefire, Israel has conducted regular strikes in southern Lebanon, citing threats from Hezbollah.
Earlier this month, a similar Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahieh area killed four people, including a Hezbollah official.
Hezbollah has not commented publicly on the recent Israeli strike.
