Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Beirut, Iran Warns Negotiations 'Impossible'

[Anchor]

Israel claims its latest strike was a retaliation against attacks by the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah.

Reporter Han Sung-hee has the details on the airstrike.

[Reporter]

Flames, smoke, and debris erupt from a building.

The Israeli military carried out an attack on a building in the Haret Hreik neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on June 14, local time.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz explained the rationale behind the airstrike targeting the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah. They stated that the strike on Hezbollah terror facilities in the Dahiyeh district—a residential area in the southern suburbs of Beirut—was a response to Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli territory, warning that they would never tolerate any aggression against their country.

The strike was a counterattack following the infiltration and explosion of three drones launched by Hezbollah into northern Israel earlier that morning.

Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that at least three people were killed and 15 others were injured in the airstrike.

[Salam / Lebanese Resident: My friend was in the building that was hit. May God help us.]

Iran, which is in the final stages of negotiating a ceasefire memorandum of understanding with the United States, immediately protested the airstrike.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament who is leading the ceasefire negotiations, criticized the move, stating, "This once again clearly demonstrates that the U.S. either lacks the will or the capacity to fulfill its promises."

He argued that the U.S. is employing a tactic of pressuring Iran for concessions while tacitly approving Israel's military actions, adding, "If the U.S. lacks the will and ability to fulfill its promises, any further discussion on continuing negotiations is impossible."

While Iran has set a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, as a condition for negotiations, Israel continues its independent military actions despite calls for restraint from President Trump.

As Israel's attacks emerge as a key variable, some are assessing that the United States' ability to control the situation is being put to the test.

(Video Editing: Kim Ho-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.