Lebanon thought there was a ceasefire – then Israel unleashed deadly blitz
Lebanon Expected Ceasefire – Israel Launches Lethal Air Strike
Lebanon had anticipated a temporary halt in hostilities. Just hours before, US President Donald Trump had declared a two-week ceasefire to end the Middle East conflict. However, this relief was short-lived as Israeli jets unleashed a 10-minute aerial assault, killing at least 203 people and injuring over 1,000 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The attack, which struck densely populated areas of central Beirut, marked one of the most intense strikes since Hezbollah’s involvement in early March.
International Reactions and US Stance
Immediate backlash from both local and global voices followed. Iran called the strike a “grave violation” of the ceasefire and urged the US to stop Israeli “aggression.” Despite this, the US offered no criticism of its ally. Lebanese officials reported over 1,700 deaths since Israel’s latest campaign began. The IDF claimed the operation targeted “100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers” across Beirut, Bekaa, and southern Lebanon.
“The war in Lebanon is a separate skirmish,” said Donald Trump, explaining the exclusion of the country from the ceasefire deal “because of Hezbollah.”
The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acting as mediator between the warring parties. Sharif stated the US and its allies had agreed to an “immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere.” Pakistan is set to host the parties on Friday, with the US 15-point plan and Iran’s 10-point counter-proposals as initial negotiation points. Iran’s plan demands a complete halt to hostilities on all fronts, including against Lebanon’s resistance movement.
Context of the Conflict
The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, prompting retaliation from Tehran against Gulf allies and attacks from Iran’s proxies—Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen—on Israel. In response, Israel targeted Hezbollah and occupied significant areas of Lebanon. The recent two-week pause was announced by Sharif, who emphasized its universal scope.
Beirut’s atmosphere shifted on a crisp, sunny morning. The city observed a day of mourning, with streets unusually quiet. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the casualties as “martyrs and wounded.” President Joseph Aoun labeled the incident a “massacre.” Search and recovery efforts continue, with little hope for families of missing persons. Ziad Samir Itani, leading the civil defense team, called the attack “new to Beirut.” Teams, fatigued after six weeks of relentless Israeli strikes, are still sifting through rubble in Tallet el Khayat, a wealthy western Beirut neighborhood.
