BEIRUT, April 1 (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike targeting a Hezbollah operative in Beirut's southern suburbs has resulted in at least four fatalities and numerous injuries, further exacerbating tensions surrounding the precarious ceasefire established four months ago. The attack occurred early Tuesday morning, in the Dahiya area well-known as a Hezbollah stronghold, without prior warning, as reported by Lebanon's health authorities.

Israel's military claimed the strike was aimed at a member of Hezbollah purportedly involved in coordinating with Hamas to plan an imminent attack against Israeli civilians. This statement followed an earlier strike on Friday, which had already raised alarms about the stability of the ceasefire effectively negotiated in November 2024, amidst a backdrop of escalating hostilities with Hezbollah.

The Israeli government announced that the target of this recent airstrike was Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir, who they allege had directed Hamas operatives. Following the attack, at least seven additional individuals were reported injured, prompting condemnation from Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who labeled the military action a “clear breach” of the ceasefire agreement.

Witness accounts painted a grim picture of the aftermath, with substantial destruction noted to the top floors of a multi-storey building, creating panic amid the early morning hours. Videos showed smoke billowing over damaged structures, raising concerns over the potential for wider conflict.

Despite international calls for restraint, tensions escalated following Israel's airstrike, which was characterized as a violation of the accords intended to curtail hostilities. Hezbollah, for its part, has denied any involvement in the rocket fire that preceded the initial strikes last week.

This instability is compounded by a series of claims and counterclaims regarding military actions and violations of the truce terms, with each side contesting the other’s commitment to peace. Israel continues to insist that it will take necessary actions to defend its territory and population, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirming a commitment to strike at any perceived threat within Lebanon.

Such airstrikes are seen as symptomatic of a broader Iranian-backed regional conflict, and analysts fear that continuous Israeli military actions may provoke Hezbollah into retaliatory measures, thus igniting a larger scale conflict.

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