IDF launched airstrikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Dahiyeh a suburb of Beirut

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes this evening on Hezbollah-linked targets in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut and a known stronghold of the terrorist organization. The military said the strikes targeted underground drone production infrastructure situated within civilian residential areas.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah's Air Unit 127, operating under Iranian direction and funding, has been producing thousands of drones in preparation for a future war with Israel. This follows a series of drone attacks launched by Hezbollah in recent months, positioning drones as a central component of its offensive strategy.

Warnings to Civilians Preceded Strikes

In advance of the attacks, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued urgent warnings to civilians residing near the targeted sites in Dahiyeh and the village of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon. In posts on the X platform, he wrote:

“You are near Hezbollah facilities. For your safety and the safety of your families, you must evacuate the buildings immediately and move at least 300–500 meters away.”

Earlier in the evening, Adraee issued a similar warning to Beirut residents, signaling the severity and imminence of the strikes.

Israeli Officials Blame Lebanese Government for Ceasefire Violations

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the Lebanese government is directly responsible for preventing Hezbollah from violating ceasefire terms and endangering northern Israeli communities.

“We will not allow any element to create threats against the northern communities and all citizens of the State of Israel,” Katz said.
“We continue to enforce the ceasefire rules without compromise.”

Lebanese Army Withdraws from Targeted Buildings

Reports from Lebanese and Saudi media indicated that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) briefly entered the threatened buildings in Dahiyeh under the orders of Army Commander Rudolf Heichal, possibly in an attempt to deter Israeli strikes. However, the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar later reported that the Lebanese army withdrew from the area, allowing the IDF to proceed with its strikes.

Ongoing Conflict: Series of Strikes in Dahiyeh and Southern Lebanon

Tonight’s strike marks the first IDF attack on Dahiyeh since April 27, when Israel targeted a warehouse containing precision missiles known locally as the "Victory Tent." That strike, coordinated with U.S. officials, destroyed what the IDF described as a significant Hezbollah weapons depot.

• On April 1, Israeli fighter jets eliminated Hassan Ali Mahmoud Badir, a Hezbollah operative affiliated with Iran’s Quds Force and Unit 3900, who had been coordinating with Hamas to launch a major attack against Israeli civilians.

• On March 28, another strike in Dahiyeh destroyed a Hezbollah drone facility following rocket fire on Kiryat Shmona.

These repeated strikes underscore Israel's zero-tolerance approach to Hezbollah's escalating military capabilities and infrastructure expansion near civilian zones.

Rising Regional Tensions

The airstrikes come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, as both sides test the limits of a fragile ceasefire. The Israeli government has reiterated that it will not tolerate threats to its northern communities and will continue to take preemptive and retaliatory measures as needed.

With drone production becoming a strategic priority for Hezbollah, Israel's message is clear: military build-up in densely populated civilian areas will not be immune from action.