Israel Targets Beirut after Hezbollah Rocket Fire; Iran Launches Missiles toward Israel

Residents in Beirut woke to the sound of Israeli airstrikes after Hezbollah said it launched rockets and drones toward a military base near Haifa.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said early Monday that its attack near Haifa was retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The group described the strike as carried out “in defense of Lebanon and its people” and “in response to the repeated Israeli aggressions.”

Within hours, Israeli jets hit targets in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, including villages in the south and parts of the Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah positions across the country and later stated that senior members of the group had been targeted in the Beirut area and southern Lebanon, without naming them.

“We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah,” Israel’s Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, confirmed.

Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Rafi Milou claimed Hezbollah had “launched an attack on our civilians” and warned it would “pay a heavy price.” He said Israeli forces had reinforced positions along the border and launched a broad wave of strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon, adding that operations would continue.

As tensions rose, Israel issued evacuation calls for residents in more than 50 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including Bint Jbeil, urging people to stay at least one kilometre away from certain locations.

Later, the Israeli military said missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israel. Air defense systems were activated, and residents in affected areas were instructed to enter protected spaces following alerts sent to mobile phones.

The escalation comes despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024. Since then, Israel has continued strikes in Lebanon, while Hezbollah had largely refrained from responding and called on the Lebanese government to address what it describes as Israeli violations.

In January, Beirut filed a complaint with the United Nations documenting 2,036 Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty over three months. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Hezbollah’s latest move, calling it “an irresponsible and suspicious act that jeopardizes Lebanon’s security and safety,” and said authorities would take steps to prevent further escalation.