IDF says it targeted Hezbollah operative posing ‘immediate threat’ in Beirut strike

The IDF says it carried out a strike on a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital of Beirut targeting a Hezbollah operative, the second such strike since a November ceasefire.

“The strike targeted a Hezbollah terrorist who had recently directed Hamas operatives and assisted them in planning a significant and imminent terror attack against Israeli civilians,” the Israeli military says in a joint statement with the domestic Shin Bet security agency.

“The terrorist posed a real and immediate threat,” the statement adds.

‼️ An Israeli strike on the southern suburb of Beirut : pic.twitter.com/Bbut8BChFb

— Hiba Nasr (@HibaNasr) April 1, 2025

On Thursday, the IDF targeted the southern Beirut Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh for the first time since a ceasefire went into place in late November between Israel and Hezbollah. Last week’s IDF strike came in response to the firing of several projectiles at northern Israel from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed it wasn’t responsible for the launches.

The US backed last week’s Israeli strikes and called on the Lebanese government to do a better job enforcing the ceasefire by ensuring the disarmament of all terror groups in Lebanon.

For its part, Beirut has taken issue with what it says is Israel’s own violation of the ceasefire, which required the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israel has kept troops in key strategic positions in southern Lebanon, arguing that the Lebanese government hasn’t sufficiently cracked down on Hezbollah and other armed groups. The Trump administration has backed this Israeli move as well.