Israel's Extensive Attacks on Hezbollah Positions in Beirut Ahead of Ceasefire Agreement

On Tuesday, December 6, the Israeli army targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut with at least ten simultaneous attacks, just before a cabinet security meeting to discuss a ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah. The Israeli army stated that a barrage of attacks hit 20 targets in the city within just 120 seconds. Previously, an Israeli army spokesperson mentioned that the country's air force was conducting "extensive attacks" on Hezbollah targets in the area. This is considered the largest simultaneous attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut to date, occurring after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, marking the largest warning in a single day. Israeli ground forces also reached parts of the Litani River in Lebanon for the first time during the ongoing conflict. The day before, U.S. officials announced that they were close to reaching an agreement for a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. This agreement requires an initial two-month halt in hostilities, obliging Hezbollah to end its presence in a wide area of southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces would return to their side of the border. Thousands of Lebanese soldiers and UN peacekeepers will be deployed in the south, and an international delegation led by the U.S. will monitor compliance by both parties. However, implementing this agreement poses challenges. Israel has demanded the right to take military action in case of Hezbollah's violations, a condition that Lebanese officials have rejected. Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel has a side agreement with the United States allowing it to act against "imminent threats" in Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized on Tuesday that if UN peacekeepers do not ensure "effective implementation" of the agreement, the Israeli army will attack Hezbollah. According to the Associated Press, Israel's new attack on Beirut leveled a residential building in the Basta area of central Beirut, marking the second time in recent days that Israeli warplanes targeted this busy area near the city center. Israel claims its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. Hezbollah began unilateral rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel one day after Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel launched severe attacks against this group's positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members of this major proxy arm of the Iranian government in the region, as well as many of its senior leaders and military commanders, including Hassan Nasrallah, Fouad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Alongside heavy airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, Israel has deployed its ground forces to parts of southern Lebanon to secure its northern borders and facilitate the return of displaced civilians to their homes. Several countries, including the U.S., Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. European requests for Israel to support the proposed ceasefire with Hezbollah have faced opposition from local Israeli leaders regarding the return of residents to their homes in the north. The regional visit by the CENTCOM commander aims to establish stability in the Middle East. U.S. officials state that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah is close.