Israel strikes Beirut for the first time since ceasefire, senior Hezbollah commander killed

Israel launched an attack on Beirut on Wednesday, May 6, marking the first strike since the ceasefire with Hezbollah was established last month. The Israeli government stated that the target was a commander from Hezbollah's elite Radwan unit located in the southern suburbs of the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz made the announcement in a joint statement. Reports from Israeli media indicated that the commander was killed in the attack, but there was no immediate verification from either the Israeli military or Hezbollah. The ceasefire in Lebanon has been a crucial part of a larger truce between the US and Iran, with the suspension of Israeli attacks in Lebanon being a significant demand from Iran. As the two nations move closer to an agreement to end their conflict, these strikes pose a risk to the ceasefire that previously stopped Israeli assaults on Beirut. Israeli forces have continued to be present in areas south of the Litani River, and attacks have persisted in southern Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, has fired upon and sent armed drones towards Israeli soldiers. Earlier on Wednesday, Israel urged residents to leave several villages north of the Litani River, which may indicate an expansion of its military operations. While discussions between Israel and Lebanon have been ongoing, they have mainly occurred at the ambassadorial level. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Wednesday that it is too early to discuss any high-level meetings between Lebanon and Israel.