Israel Strikes Beirut Suburb, Kills Hezbollah Commander

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 7 there was no immunity for Israel's enemies. The statement came one day after the Israeli military carried out its first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since a ceasefire with Hezbollah was declared last month. The strike targeted a Hezbollah commander.

The attack marked an escalation in Lebanon even as both sides have traded fire since the truce began. A strike on Beirut occurred on Wednesday.

In Gaza, Israeli military actions have killed more than 800 Palestinians since a truce was declared there in October. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 846 Palestinians killed in ongoing violence despite the fragile ceasefire. One strike hit a security post, killing three people including a father mourned by his son.

The strikes in Gaza have continued almost every day. Attacks on an engineer and drivers transporting water have intensified a water crisis that is fuelling the spread of infectious diseases. Médecins Sans Frontières has described the weaponisation of water supplies as a campaign of collective punishment.

Homes continue to be flattened in Gaza despite an estimated $70 billion cost of eventual reconstruction. Families living in tents face rat infestations while essential medicines remain unavailable. Hospitals and schools lie in ruins.

An analysis of the war’s impact on education found Palestinian children describing themselves as feeling like the living dead. The situation in both territories reflects de-escalation agreements that have not ended lethal violence.

The fragile nature of both the Lebanon and Gaza ceasefires has raised questions about their long-term viability without stronger enforcement.

The latest strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs represents the first such action there since the ceasefire was put in place. Israeli officials have not detailed the full outcome of the Hezbollah commander targeting beyond confirming the strike occurred.