Israel conducted heavy airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut after the Iran-backed Lebanese group launched missiles and drones toward Israel, retaliating for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Beirut Airstrikes and Escalating Conflict
Residents of Beirut were awakened by approximately a dozen blasts starting at 3 a.m. as Israel struck three locations in the south of Lebanon’s capital. Bombings continued into the late morning, with the area largely deserted by noon.
Explosions rattled windows throughout the city and were heard from miles away. Warplanes and bombs were reported over wide areas of southern Lebanon, collapsing buildings near Tyre.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported a preliminary toll of at least 31 people killed and 149 injured in the strikes.
The conflict represents the latest escalation in the US-Israeli war with Iran, now in its third day and expanding across the Middle East. Iran continued attacks on Gulf Arab states, with a drone striking an Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia on Monday morning. A drone also reportedly hit a UK military base in Cyprus overnight – the first instance of Iranian strikes affecting an EU state.
Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, stated that Iran does not seek to attack states in the region but will continue to target those hosting US bases used for attacks against Iran.
US President Donald Trump issued contradictory statements regarding a potential diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Initially indicating openness to talks, he later released a video on his Truth Social platform vowing to continue fighting until all objectives are achieved and to “avenge” US troops killed.
Larijani, in a post on X, said: “We will not negotiate with the United States.”
The extent of Hezbollah’s involvement in the Iran conflict remains unclear, as the Lebanese state attempts to prevent further escalation.
Hezbollah stated it launched missiles and drones at the Mishmar al-Karmel missile defense facility near Haifa in “retaliation” for the killing of Khamenei and “in defence of Lebanon and its people”.
Israel responded by striking what it described as Hezbollah targets across south Lebanon, the Bekaa valley, and the Beirut suburb of Dahieh. The Israeli military claimed the strikes on Dahieh killed several senior Hezbollah officers.
“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight and is fully responsible for any escalation. Any enemy that threatens our security will pay a heavy price,” said Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, chief of the Israeli military.
The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 55 villages and towns across Lebanon, urging residents to move at least a kilometer away from “Hezbollah operatives and facilities”. The military also announced the deployment of 100,000 reservists, many along the border with Lebanon.
Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said Israeli troops have not yet entered Lebanese territory but are “prepared to do so” if necessary, with the goal of “degrading the capabilities of the group”.
Residents began fleeing Dahieh by car and on foot, with lines forming outside petrol stations in Tyre as people headed north. Highways from Dahieh into Beirut were congested with vehicles navigating rubble and debris.
Videos showed buildings in Dahieh ablaze, with burnt-out cars surrounding collapsed structures. Witnesses reported rocket barrages from south Lebanon toward Israel.
The 13-month war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in 2024 is a recent memory for many Lebanese, raising fears that Dahieh, the Bekaa valley, and parts of the south could become uninhabitable again.
In the early hours of Monday, families devised evacuation plans as the number of displaced people from affected areas in Lebanon grew. Dozens of schools in Beirut opened to shelter displaced families, while crowds gathered in Martyr’s Square.
Lebanon’s government condemned Hezbollah’s decision to attack Israel without consulting the state. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated he would “not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures”, adding that the rocket fire from southern Lebanon was “irresponsible and suspicious”.
For weeks, Lebanese officials have sought to prevent Hezbollah from joining a potential war in Iran, as Israel warned of a wide-ranging response against the entire country if attacked.
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