Israel approved renewed strikes on southern Beirut suburbs Monday, a day after its ground forces reached their deepest position in Lebanon in 26 years and as Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel, including the outskirts of Haifa.
A joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said that following what they called repeated violations of the cease-fire by Hezbollah and the "attacks against our cities and citizens," they have ordered the Israeli military to attack targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs known in Arabic as Dahiyeh.
Hezbollah agreed to halt attacks on Israel when the cease-fire was signed in mid-April, but resumed following Israeli strikes in Lebanon that Israel characterized as self-defense.
After Monday's warning, large numbers of people were seen fleeing Dahiyeh, jamming roads leading out of the suburb, where Hezbollah enjoys wide support.
Israeli airstrikes overnight on southern Lebanon left six people dead, including a Syrian citizen in a village near the city of Nabatiyeh, the state-run National News Agency said.
