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On April 8, less than one day after the Trump administration agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran, Israel struck Lebanon in its heaviest and deadliest attack on the country since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began. At least 250 deaths have been reported. Israeli and U.S. authorities are insisting that the ceasefire proposal did not include Lebanon, where Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah. Iran and Pakistan, which brokered the deal, say the agreed-upon pause in hostilities applied to both countries. Since Israel’s genocide of Gaza, “the silence of states and the continued flow of weapons has only emboldened Israel,” says Beirut-based Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss. “The response from the international community has been limited by words of condemnation, but no effective action has been taken yet in order to stop these atrocities from happening.”

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: Lebanon has declared a day of mourning after Israeli attacks on Wednesday killed over 250 people and injured 1,000 others. At one point, Israel launched a hundred strikes in just 10 minutes. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks as “barbaric” and accused Israel of carrying out a new massacre.

The strikes came as the Israeli government and the Trump administration claim the Iran ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, but top diplomats have disagreed. When the ceasefire was first announced, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, quote, “Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately,” unquote.

The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot was in Beirut on Wednesday. He said Israeli missiles struck just a few hundred meters from where he was at the Belgian Embassy. He wrote, quote, “Just before I was commending President Aoun for offering to open official negotiations with Israel towards a ceasefire, Israel launched, with no previous warning, one of the most massive strikes since the beginning of the hostilities … This must stop. The ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran must include Lebanon!” the Belgian foreign minister wrote.

Israel Carpet Bombs Lebanon After Announcement of Iran Ceasefire

Iran’s deputy foreign minister told the BBC that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon were a “grave violation” of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

Residents of Beirut expressed shock at the Israeli assault.

BEIRUT RESIDENT: [translated] There’s something unbelievable, destruction, very massive destruction. I mean, even someone who isn’t afraid would become afraid. I feel fear and anxiety. Where is this country headed? What are we going to do with our lives? Where are we staying? Where are we going? No one knows what’s going to happen. We have children, livelihoods, property. People want to live. Enough. We’ve had enough of war.

BEIRUT RESIDENT: [translated] There’s something unbelievable, destruction, very massive destruction. I mean, even someone who isn’t afraid would become afraid. I feel fear and anxiety. Where is this country headed? What are we going to do with our lives? Where are we staying? Where are we going? No one knows what’s going to happen. We have children, livelihoods, property. People want to live. Enough. We’ve had enough of war.

AMY GOODMAN: The Israeli strikes on central Beirut hit Shia Muslim and Christian communities not affiliated with Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, southern Lebanon has been effectively cut off from the rest of the country after Israel bombed seven key bridges. Lebanese officials closed the last remaining bridge in the area after Israel threatened to destroy that one, as well. On Wednesday, an Israeli military spokesperson said the area south of the Litani River was disconnected from Lebanon. Israel has threatened to keep occupying large areas of southern Lebanon, where more than 1 million people have been displaced.

We go now to Beirut, where we’re joined by Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.

We thank you so much for being with us. Can you talk about what’s happened in just the last 24 hours, the areas hit, the massive damage, the number of lives lost, Ramzi?

RAMZI KAISS: Thanks, Amy, and thank you for having me.

So, yesterday morning, many people across the country woke up to the news shared in the early morning by Pakistan’s prime minister that Lebanon was indeed part of the........

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