Beirut, Lebanon. Hezbollah attacked Israel on Monday, saying it was avenging the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Israeli strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon and drawing criticism from Lebanese leaders seeking to keep the country out of a regional war.
Israeli strikes hit Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon
Israeli strikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon killed 31 people, Lebanon’s health ministry reported. People fled the southern suburbs on foot and by car, clogging roads, as more than a dozen powerful explosions shook the capital starting around 2:40 a.m. (0040 GMT).
Conflict widens after attacks on Iran
The violence widened a conflict that has spread through the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday. Hezbollah, a Shi’ite Muslim group established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is one of Tehran’s principal allies in the Middle East.
Israel blames Hezbollah for escalation
Israel held Hezbollah responsible for the escalation after the group said it had fired rockets and drones to avenge “the pure blood” of Khamenei and in response to what it described as repeated Israeli attacks. The Israeli military said no injuries or damage were reported in Israel.
First Hezbollah attack since 2024 war
Hezbollah’s attack was its first on Israel since a war in 2024, while Israel’s strikes on the southern suburbs were the heaviest since that conflict.
Israeli military warns of prolonged combat
“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation,” Israeli Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir said in a statement. “We must prepare for many prolonged days of combat ahead,” he said in a later statement, adding that Israel had launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah.
Lebanese officials criticise attack on Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attacks but also warned against Lebanon being used as a platform for wars “we have nothing to do with”, saying it would “expose our nation once more to dangers”.
How do you think Lebanon’s leaders will respond to pressure to keep the country out of the conflict?