Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Lebanon
At least 31 people were killed and 149 wounded in Israeli air attacks on Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a rocket and drone strike on northern Israel, marking a major escalation in the widening regional war that began with joint US–Israel attacks on Iran.
The strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in southern Lebanon. The agency reported that 20 people were killed, while 11 were killed in the south.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “In response to projectile fire toward northern Israel, the IDF is striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.”
The military accused Hezbollah of acting “on behalf of the Iranian regime,” alleging that the group was targeting Israeli civilians and “bringing ruin to Lebanon.”
The IDF added that its forces had prepared for such developments under Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, stating that troops were ready for a potential “all-fronts scenario” amid the rapidly expanding regional conflict.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the start of an offensive campaign against the group.
“We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah,” Zamir said following a security meeting.
Hezbollah said its rocket and drone attack targeted a military base near Haifa and was carried out in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the operation as “in defence of Lebanon and its people” and in response to repeated Israeli attacks.
“The resistance leadership has always affirmed that the continuation of Israeli aggression and the assassination of our leaders, youth and people gives us the right to defend ourselves,” the group said, adding that Israel could not continue its prolonged aggression without facing a response.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for residents in more than 50 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including the town of Bint Jbeil, urging people to remain at least one kilometre away from certain buildings.
The warnings triggered large-scale displacement, with hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes in the south.
The scale of evacuation orders mirrored mass displacement directives previously issued during Israel’s war on Gaza.
Although Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire in November 2024, Lebanese authorities have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the truce through near-daily air strikes.
In January, Beirut filed a complaint with the United Nations documenting 2,036 alleged Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty in the final three months of 2025.
Hezbollah, which operates independently from the Lebanese government, was significantly weakened during the 2024 war in which Israel killed many of its senior political and military leaders. It remains unclear how much damage the group can inflict on Israel or whether its intervention will substantially shift the regional balance of power.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticised Hezbollah’s action, calling it “an irresponsible and suspicious act that jeopardises Lebanon’s security and safety and provides Israel with pretexts to continue its aggression.”
“We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures,” Salam said, adding that authorities would take necessary measures to protect the Lebanese people.
