Israel said on Sunday that its military carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut's southern suburbs after the Iran-backed group launched projectiles towards northern Israel. Lebanese state media reported that at least two people were killed in the attack, adding to growing concerns about renewed escalation in the region.
According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah fired three projectiles towards communities in northern Israel earlier in the day. Israeli officials described the launch as a clear violation of existing ceasefire understandings and warned that such attacks would not go unanswered.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the military operation. The statement said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had targeted Hezbollah facilities in Beirut's Dahiyeh district in response to the projectile fire directed at Israeli territory.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the strike killed two people and injured four others. The attack reportedly hit an apartment in the Dahiyeh area, a southern suburb of Beirut that is widely regarded as a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Lebanese security sources said the operation appeared to be a targeted strike involving two missiles. The Israeli military later stated that it had conducted a precise attack on what it described as a Hezbollah command centre located in the area.
Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the Israeli claims regarding the projectile launches. However, the group later announced that it had fired missiles and drones towards Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon.
The latest escalation comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as diplomatic efforts continue to secure a broader agreement involving the United States and Iran. Regional tensions have remained high following months of conflict that disrupted energy markets and raised fears of a wider Middle East war.
Last week, an Israeli strike in the Dahiyeh district triggered an exchange of fire involving Israel and Iran, creating uncertainty around ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the broader conflict. Observers feared that continued hostilities could derail negotiations that have been progressing in recent weeks.
Reports indicate that Washington and Tehran have moved closer to a potential agreement intended to end the conflict that has lasted for more than three months. The war has significantly affected regional stability, disrupted global energy supplies, and created uncertainty in international markets. Both American and Pakistani officials have expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached soon.
Iran has consistently maintained that any broader understanding with the United States must include an end to hostilities involving Lebanon. Tehran has repeatedly linked progress in negotiations to developments on the Lebanese front, making the latest exchange of fire particularly significant.
Following Sunday's strike, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's position, stating that the country would not tolerate attacks on its territory and would continue responding to threats directed at its citizens.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military issued a large-scale evacuation warning covering at least 30 towns and villages in southern Lebanon. Residents were advised to leave areas where military operations could take place as tensions continued to rise.
Israeli forces currently maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon and have stated that their objective is to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure located near the border. Israeli officials argue that these operations are necessary to prevent future attacks and improve security along the frontier.
Despite ongoing ceasefire discussions between the Lebanese government and Israel in Washington, clashes in southern Lebanon have continued. The negotiations have so far failed to produce a lasting arrangement capable of ending hostilities on the ground.
Hezbollah has rejected the current negotiations, arguing that any ceasefire agreement must guarantee a complete cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. The group has maintained that partial arrangements are insufficient to address the underlying conflict.
Earlier this month, Israel warned residents against returning to certain parts of southern Lebanon, stating that military operations in the area would continue until security objectives were achieved.
The current phase of the conflict began when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on March 2, two days after the United States and Israel initiated airstrikes against Iran. Since then, the confrontation has expanded across multiple fronts, drawing regional actors deeper into the crisis.
Israel has vowed to respond forcefully to Hezbollah's actions and has carried out extensive airstrikes throughout Lebanon. According to various reports, the conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and has displaced more than one million people, creating a significant humanitarian crisis across the country.
