Israel Strikes Beirut for the First Time, Is Ceasefire with Lebanon in Question?
For the first time since the ceasefire of April 16, the Israeli military attacked the capital Beirut on Wednesday (6/5/2026). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they targeted a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces, who was reportedly killed in the strike, though there's no official confirmation from either side yet. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Minister announced this attack in a joint statement, after previously calling for the evacuation of residents in several villages north of the Litani River.
This attack occurred even though the Lebanon ceasefire supporting the broader US-Iran agreement remains in effect, with halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon being a key Iranian demand. Israeli forces continue to maintain positions south of the Litani River and carry out attacks in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah responded with gunfire and launches of armed drones towards Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon continue at the ambassador level in the United States. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated it's still too early to talk about high-level meetings with Israel, emphasizing that strengthening the ceasefire will be the basis for new negotiations in Washington D.C. The US has already hosted two meetings between the two countries' ambassadors, though Hezbollah does not acknowledge this contact.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/05/