US supports Israel's airstrike on Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut

The United States State Department defended Israel's actions on March 28, following an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The airstrike, which was Israel's first on the area since a fragile ceasefire was established in November, came in response to rocket fire launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

A State Department spokesperson stated that Israel was simply "defending its people and interests" by retaliating against what they described as "terrorist" rocket attacks originating from Lebanon. The spokesperson further emphasized that under the terms of the cessation of hostilities agreement, it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah and prevent further escalations.

The airstrike, which targeted a building in Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood, was reportedly aimed at a drone storage facility linked to Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militant group. While no group has claimed responsibility for the rocket fire from Lebanon, the Lebanese army said it had located the launch site and was investigating the incident.

The Israeli airstrike marks the most serious escalation since the ceasefire agreement was put into place. Tensions have been running high in the region, with the backdrop of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement.

Israel’s last major conflict with Lebanon occurred in 2022, leaving more than 1.3 million displaced individuals and significant destruction in the country's south. Hezbollah's leadership was also severely impacted during the conflict.

This latest escalation is part of the broader and ongoing violence in the region, which was ignited on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants from Gaza launched a devastating attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages.

By Vugar Khalilov