Israel targets Iran-backed Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in fresh strikes
Fresh Israeli strikes target Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs, escalating the regional war.
The Israeli military announced it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut on Saturday, with local media reporting two separate strikes on the capital's southern suburbs. The attacks, which resulted in loud explosions and billowing smoke, targeted a locality that has been repeatedly hit by Israeli forces in recent days. This offensive is part of Israel's broader military campaign, which includes a ground invasion in southern Lebanon aimed at degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.
Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East conflict on March 2 when Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, launched rocket attacks against Israel. This action was declared as retaliation for a US-Israeli operation that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has created a dangerous spillover, with a blast at a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position near the border wounding three peacekeepers just one day prior, marking the third such incident in a short period.
- Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs on Saturday.
- The conflict escalated after Hezbollah launched rockets on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- A UNIFIL position was struck on Friday, wounding three peacekeepers in the third similar recent incident.
Why It Matters
The strikes represent a significant escalation, directly targeting the Lebanese capital and risking a broader regional war.