Israel Bombs Beirut After Hezbollah Haifa Attack

Israeli fighter jets carried out air strikes on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones targeting a military base near Haifa in northern Israel.

The Iran-backed Lebanese armed group said its attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah said the strike was carried out “in defence of Lebanon and its people” and in response to what it described as repeated Israeli aggression over the past 15 months.

Casualties and Damage

Lebanon’s state news agency, National News Agency (NNA), reported that Israeli air strikes killed at least 31 people and injured 149 others. Israeli attacks were reported in southern Beirut, several villages in south Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said it was “vigorously attacking Hezbollah” across Lebanon and would not allow the group to threaten Israeli residents in the north. It later stated that “senior” Hezbollah members were targeted in Beirut and that a key figure was struck in south Lebanon, though no names were provided.

Evacuation Orders Issued

Israel called on residents of more than 50 villages in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including the town of Bint Jbeil, to evacuate and stay at least 1 kilometre away from certain buildings. The wide-scale evacuation warning signals fears of further escalation.

Regional War Expands

The latest violence marks a major escalation in the growing regional conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and its allies on the other.

Hezbollah, which operates independently of the Lebanese government, was significantly weakened during the 2024 war with Israel, when many of its military and political leaders were killed. It remains unclear how much damage the group can inflict on Israel or whether its involvement will shift the balance in Iran’s favor.

Ceasefire Violations and Political Tensions

Hezbollah and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024. However, Lebanese officials say Israel has continued near-daily strikes despite the truce.

In January, Beirut filed a complaint with the United Nations, documenting more than 2,000 Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty in the final months of 2025.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Hezbollah’s attack, calling it “an irresponsible and suspicious act” that threatens Lebanon’s security and gives Israel justification to continue its military operations.

He said the government would take necessary measures to protect Lebanese citizens and prevent the country from being dragged into further conflict.

Lebanon is already facing severe economic and political crises, and the renewed fighting risks deepening instability across the country and the wider region.