Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah missiles as Iran war spreads to Beirut
Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah missiles triggered a wave of overnight airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, dramatically widening the Iran war escalation now gripping the Middle East.
The Israeli military launched heavy bombardment on Dahieh in southern Beirut after Hezbollah confirmed a coordinated Hezbollah missile attack and drone barrage targeting northern Israel.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 31 people were killed and 149 injured in the Beirut airstrikes, warning the casualty figure could rise as rescue teams search through debris.
Residents described being woken around 3am by powerful explosions that shattered windows and sent families scrambling into the streets.
Hezbollah said it fired missiles at the Mishmar al-Karmel missile defence facility near Haifa in retaliation for the killing of Ali Khamenei.
Israel responded within hours, striking what it described as Hezbollah military infrastructure across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the Dahieh district.
Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief, said Hezbollah had “opened a campaign” and would face serious consequences for escalating hostilities.
The Hezbollah missile attack marks one of the most direct cross-border confrontations since the 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Plumes of smoke rose above residential blocks as buildings collapsed and vehicles burned in the streets of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Highways leading north out of the capital quickly became congested as civilians fled amid fears of continued bombardment.
Schools in Beirut opened to shelter displaced families as authorities attempted to manage the sudden humanitarian strain.
The escalation comes as the broader Iran war escalation intensifies across multiple fronts in the region.
US President Donald Trump signalled that military operations would continue until strategic objectives were met.
Trump had earlier suggested he was open to talks but later hardened his stance, promising to “avenge” American casualties.
Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani said Tehran would not negotiate while under attack.
Iran has accused regional states hosting US forces of enabling strikes against its territory, warning they could face retaliation.
Overnight drone attacks reportedly struck energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and targeted a UK military base in Cyprus.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the cross-border rocket fire, calling it an “irresponsible act” that jeopardised national security.
Without naming Hezbollah directly, Salam said he would not allow Lebanon to be dragged into broader conflict.
Israeli forces have mobilised thousands of reservists along the northern frontier, signalling readiness for further confrontation.
Military officials said ground forces had not yet entered Lebanon but were prepared to do so if required.
The Beirut airstrikes revived memories of the 13-month conflict that ended in 2024, when large areas of southern Lebanon were left devastated.
Nearly 4,000 people were killed during that previous war, and around one million were displaced.
Analysts warn that sustained exchanges could transform the current confrontation into a prolonged Israel-Lebanon war.
International calls for restraint have so far failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough.
For civilians in Beirut, the immediate priority remains safety, as emergency crews continue searching through damaged neighbourhoods.
The rapid escalation highlights how quickly regional tensions tied to the Ali Khamenei killing have expanded beyond Iran’s borders.
Whether Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah missiles becomes a sustained campaign or a limited exchange may depend on decisions in Jerusalem, Tehran and Washington.
For now, Beirut remains on edge as the Iran war escalation enters an unpredictable new phase.
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