Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Israeli forces to bomb the southern suburbs of Beirut — the most serious escalation of Israel's war in Lebanon since a ceasefire was announced on April 17. Thousands of residents fled their homes within minutes of the announcement, choking roads out of the city. More than a million people have already been displaced across Lebanon since the conflict began.

This is not a minor flare-up. Since the ceasefire was declared, Israeli strikes have killed more than 800 people in Lebanon. Now Netanyahu has vowed to deepen and expand Israel's military presence further into the country. An Israeli airstrike already severely damaged the Jabal Amel hospital in Tyre, blowing in windows and collapsing sections of its ceiling while patients and staff were inside.

The bombing of Beirut has also derailed Iran-US peace talks entirely. Iran has called off all negotiations, warning that a ceasefire in Lebanon is a precondition for any broader agreement. European leaders including France, the UK, and Germany have condemned the escalation. French President Emmanuel Macron said nothing justifies what he called a "major escalation."

More than 3,300 people, including children and first responders, have been killed in Lebanon since March. The US helped broker the ceasefire. The US must now demand it be honored.

We're calling on the United States government to immediately demand Israel halt its bombing of Beirut and uphold the ceasefire agreement before this escalation spirals beyond control.

Photo: AP/Bilal Hussein