BEIRUT: Israel has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, in a significant escalation of regional tensions. The strikes targeted neighbourhoods including Haret Hreik, Chyah, Choueifat, Er-Rouaiss, and Jamous, following Israel’s warning to civilians to vacate areas allegedly used by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, reports appearing in international media said.
The Israeli army had issued evacuation orders for civilians in these areas, with its Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, publishing detailed maps, urging residents to maintain a distance of 500 metres from the targeted sites. Following the strikes, columns of smoke rose above the suburbs, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or infrastructure damage.
The airstrikes come in response to a dramatic escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Tehran recently launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, retaliating for the assassinations of key leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These senior figures, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC Commander Abbas Nilforoshan, were killed in Israeli airstrikes over the last few months, with Nasrallah’s death being the most recent, occurring last week in Beirut.
In response to Iran’s missile attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning, stating: “Iran has made a big mistake with this attack and will pay for it.” Several missiles struck northern Tel Aviv, injuring three civilians, while Israeli defence systems successfully intercepted many others.
US President Joe Biden condemned the Iranian missile strikes and reaffirmed his administration’s strong support for Israel, describing the attacks as “an unacceptable provocation by Iran.” He added, “We stand firmly with Israel in defending its sovereignty and people. Iran’s missile attack was largely defeated, thanks to Israel’s advanced defence capabilities, but this aggression will not go unanswered.”
President Biden confirmed that American destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean had intercepted multiple Iranian missiles as part of the US mission to support Israel’s defence. He warned that further Iranian provocations would “meet with swift and decisive action,” vowing that “the United States will continue to ensure Israel’s security.”
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed this sentiment, asserting that Iran’s actions pose a direct threat not only to Israel but also to US personnel and interests across the Middle East. “We will hold Iran accountable for its reckless behaviour,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, addressing the escalating tensions, justified Tehran’s missile strikes as a legitimate response to Israeli aggression. “Israel’s continued acts of war against the resistance leadership and its disregard for the lives of civilians will not go unanswered,” he declared. “The Islamic Republic stands ready to defend the oppressed and to retaliate against the Zionist regime’s crimes, which have destabilised the region for decades.”
Raisi further criticised US involvement, accusing Washington of complicity in Israeli “crimes” against Palestinians and Hezbollah. “The United States and its allies must understand that any support for Israel’s acts of violence will only lead to more instability and bloodshed in the region,” he stated.
Since September 23, Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, focusing on Hezbollah strongholds. The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported more than 1,073 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries as a result of these attacks, with significant losses in Hezbollah’s leadership ranks. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have also initiated ground operations in southern Lebanon, further raising fears of a broader conflict amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where over 41,600 people, mainly women and children, have been killed.
The situation remains volatile, with cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continuing unabated since Israel’s war on Gaza, triggered by a Hamas-led attack in October. With thousands of lives lost and millions displaced in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has prompted international calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency session to discuss the escalating situation between Israel and Lebanon. Switzerland, which currently holds the council’s presidency, confirmed that consultations among member states are expected to address the growing risk of a broader regional war.
Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq have temporarily closed their airspace in response to the crisis, while Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport has suspended operations due to the threat of missile attacks. A Palestinian worker in the occupied West Bank was killed by shrapnel during the Iranian missile assault, highlighting the broader civilian toll as the conflict expands.
As tensions continue to rise between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran, the possibility of a regional war looms large, with diplomatic efforts failing to stem the tide of violence.