In an exclusive interview, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller, expressed deep concerns regarding recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Beirut. Shortly after these statements, the region faced at least one attack, marking the Israeli military’s renewed missile offensive after a six-day hiatus.

On October 15, Miller stated that the United States had communicated its apprehensions to the Netanyahu government, emphasizing that Washington was “clearly concerned and opposed to the scope and nature of the bombings in Beirut over the past few weeks.”

Just hours later, reports of renewed attacks in southern Beirut emerged. Reuters eyewitnesses described hearing two explosions and observed smoke rising from two distinct neighborhoods. Earlier that morning, Israel had issued evacuation warnings, albeit mentioning only one specific building.

In recent weeks, the Israeli military has conducted attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Beirut without prior warning, often launching broader strikes even while signaling alerts for specific areas.

The last attack on Beirut occurred on October 10, resulting in two strikes near the city center that left 22 people dead and reduced an entire building in a densely populated area to rubble.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, the Israeli military operations have had a profound impact, affecting over a quarter of southern Lebanon as the operations began two weeks ago, reportedly aimed at countering Hezbollah.