President Trump says there is no risk of ceasefire after Israel attacks on Gaza
President Donald Trump says the ceasefire agreement is not in jeopardy after Israeli airstrikes on Gaza left scores dead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on November 23 that Israel targeted the chief of staff of Lebanese Iranian group Hezbollah in an attack on the southern outskirts of the capital Beirut.
It was the first strike in recent months in the capital’s southern suburbs, known for housing Hezbollah leaders.
The target of the attack was military official Ali Tabtabai, according to Israeli and Lebanese security officials briefed on the attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not said whether Tabtabai was killed.
In 2016, the United States identified Tabtabai as a key military leader of Hezbollah and imposed sanctions with a reward of up to $5 million for information about Tabtabai.
The bombing hit a main road in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and residents told Reuters they heard the roar of fighter jets before the explosion.
A Reuters reporter on the ground said people rushed out of their apartment buildings, fearing further strikes.
At least two people were killed and 20 injured were taken to area hospitals, medical officials said.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Israeli attacks on Hezbollah over the past two years have killed then-leader Hassan Nasrallah, many of the group’s military leaders, and about 5,000 fighters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on November 23, before the attack, that Israel would continue its fight against “terrorism” on many fronts.
“We will continue to do whatever it takes to prevent Hezbollah from regaining the ability to threaten us again,” he said.
Israel has stepped up airstrikes in southern Lebanon, carrying out near-daily attacks that it says are aimed at preventing a military resurgence by Hezbollah in the border area.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of attempting to rearm since a U.S.-backed ceasefire last year. The group says it is ending its military presence in border areas near Israel and complying with requirements for deploying Lebanese troops to the area.
(Reporting by Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily, Jaidaa Taha, Ahmed Tolba, Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Alexandra Hudson, Ros Russell)
