Israel Strikes Beirut Suburbs After Hezbollah Missile Attacks

Israel carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on 2 March after the Iran-backed group launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

More than a dozen explosions shook the southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, marking the heaviest strikes on the area since the 2024 Israel–Hezbollah war. Residents fled on foot and by car, clogging streets after the strikes began around 2:40 a.m. local time (0040 GMT).

The escalation widens the regional conflict that erupted after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February.

Hezbollah, a Shi’ite group founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is one of Tehran’s main allies in the Middle East. The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah facilities across Lebanon, including senior members in Beirut.

“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight and is fully responsible for any escalation,” said Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir. Israel also issued warnings for residents in dozens of southern and eastern Lebanese villages to evacuate.

Lebanese authorities have not yet confirmed casualties. Israel reported that several projectiles launched from Lebanon landed in open areas and that one was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, causing no injuries or damage.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli missile defence site south of Haifa, citing revenge for “the pure blood” of Khamenei and in response to what it described as repeated Israeli attacks. It was the first Hezbollah strike of this kind since the 2024 war.

“The resistance leadership has always emphasised that the continuation of Israeli attacks and the assassination of our leaders, youth, and people give us the right to defend ourselves,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

Since a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in 2024, Israel has conducted periodic strikes against Hezbollah targets, accusing the group of rearming. This was Israel’s first attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs since killing Hezbollah’s top military official, Ali Tabtabai, in November. Strikes were also reported in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticised the missile launches, calling them “irresponsible” and a threat to Lebanon’s security. Lebanon’s presidency said the US ambassador had assured them that Israel would not escalate against Lebanon as long as no hostile acts occurred from Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah has engaged Israel in multiple conflicts but was significantly weakened in the 2024 war, during which its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed.