Israel bombards southern Beirut, defence minister rules out ceasefire VIDEO

The Israeli military launched at least five airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on November 12, following the Israeli defence minister’s statement ruling out any ceasefire in Lebanon until Israel’s objectives were fulfilled.

Smoke billowed over Beirut as explosions rocked the capital around mid-morning. The airstrikes came after the Israeli military issued a warning on social media, identifying 12 targets in the southern suburbs and signalling imminent action.

The warning highlighted that these sites were situated near Hezbollah facilities and advised residents accordingly.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the latest strikes, though most residents had already evacuated the southern suburbs since Israel began its bombardment of the area in September.

In northern Israel, air raid sirens were activated, prompting residents to seek shelter. The military reported that several “suspicious aerial targets” had been launched from Lebanon, although no injuries were reported.

Notably, the conflict along the Lebanese-Israeli border, initially triggered by the war in Gaza, had been simmering for a year before Israel intensified its operations in September, conducting widespread airstrikes across Lebanon and deploying ground forces in the south.

Over the past seven weeks, Israel has dealt significant blows to Hezbollah, killing many of its senior figures, including Hassan Nasrallah, and causing extensive damage to parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs and border villages in southern Lebanon.

Israel’s newly appointed Defence Minister, Israel Katz, met with the general staff for the first time on November 11 and reiterated that no ceasefire would be accepted until Israel’s aims were achieved.

“Israel will not agree to any arrangement that does not secure our right to act against terrorism and achieve the objectives of the war in Lebanon: disarming Hezbollah, ensuring its withdrawal beyond the Litani River, and the safe return of residents in the north to their homes,” Katz stated.

Earlier on November 11, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar noted that there had been “certain progress” in ceasefire negotiations but stressed that the fight against Hezbollah was not yet concluded. He pointed out that the main obstacle to any ceasefire agreement would be its enforcement.

Hezbollah has declared its readiness for a protracted conflict and has continued to launch rockets.

By Aghakazim Guliyev