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Israel Kills 31 in Lebanon, Vows to Expand Strikes after Hezbollah Fire

Cars sit in traffic as residents flee Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, early Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Cars sit in traffic as residents flee Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, early Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Israel Kills 31 in Lebanon, Vows to Expand Strikes after Hezbollah Fire

Cars sit in traffic as residents flee Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, early Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Cars sit in traffic as residents flee Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, early Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 31 people on Monday, authorities said, following rocket fire from Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah after the killing of Iran's supreme leader. 

Israel's military vowed to intensify its attacks on the country and make Hezbollah pay a "heavy price" after launching several strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and south Lebanon, areas where Hezbollah holds sway. 

The escalation came as Lebanese authorities, who have been trying to spare the country from any repercussions of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, said Hezbollah's rocket fire gave Israel "excuses" to ramp up its attacks. 

Hezbollah's attack on Israel overnight was the first time the Lebanese movement claimed responsibility for an operation against Israel since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between the two. 

The group announced around 3 am (0100 GMT) on Monday that it had targeted an Israeli army site south of Haifa city "with a barrage of high-quality missiles and a swarm of drones". 

It said the move was "retaliation for the pure blood" of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, blaming his death on Israel after it launched attacks in a joint operation with the United States on Saturday. 

"Hezbollah chose the Iranian regime over the State of Lebanon and initiated an attack on our civilians... they will pay a heavy price," said Rafi Milo, head of the Israeli military's Northern Command. 

"The strikes continue, their intensity will increase," he was quoted as saying in a military statement hours after the first strikes were fired. 

Lebanon's health ministry gave an "initial toll" of 31 killed in Israel's strikes, 20 in Beirut's southern suburbs and 11 in the south. It said at least 149 were wounded. 

In the capital's southern suburbs, strikes hit the top two floors of at least two buildings, according to an AFP photographer. 

A fire broke out in one of the targeted apartments. 

The bombings triggered a mass exodus from the area, according to AFP correspondents, with families hastily leaving their homes on motorcycles or in cars. 

Further south on the Mediterranean coast, an AFP journalist in Sidon saw huge lines of cars packed with families escaping the attacks. 

Israel's strikes hit several areas of the south including Kfur, Haris and Sultaniya. 

- Retaliation - 

Israel has carried out regular strikes on Lebanon since the 2024 ceasefire came into effect, usually saying it targets the militant group and accusing it of truce violations. 

Hezbollah has been weakened from conflict with Israel, which it entered to support Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip. 

On Monday, a military statement said Israeli forces "precisely struck" senior Hezbollah members in the Beirut area, and another in the south. 

Israel then issued an evacuation warning to residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon's south and east -- both Hezbollah strongholds. 

"For your safety, evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters (0.6 miles) away from your village to open areas," army spokeswoman Ella Waweya said in a statement on X. 

Around three hours before Hezbollah's statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' Telegram channel said that "Hezbollah officially entered the war". 

The Israeli military said that "several projectiles" fired from Lebanon on Monday "fell in open areas", with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. 

- 'Irresponsible' - 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said attacks from the country's territory risked drawing the country into regional conflict. 

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has pushed for Hezbollah's disarmament, called Monday's rocket fire "irresponsible". 

He vowed to "stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people". 

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said, according to a statement, that "Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation". 

Lebanese authorities had repeatedly said they do not wish to involve their country in the outbreak of conflict in the region, which started after a massive US-Israeli attack on Iran.  

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Arab World

Israel Far-right Minister Slams Ceasefire with Lebanon as 'Serious Mistake'

A photograph shows the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in the Burj al-Chamali area near the southern city of Tyre, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A photograph shows the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in the Burj al-Chamali area near the southern city of Tyre, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
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Israel Far-right Minister Slams Ceasefire with Lebanon as 'Serious Mistake'

A photograph shows the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in the Burj al-Chamali area near the southern city of Tyre, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A photograph shows the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in the Burj al-Chamali area near the southern city of Tyre, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized on Thursday a ceasefire deal with Lebanon brokered by Washington, calling it a "serious mistake".

"The ceasefire with Lebanon is a serious mistake and the pipe dreams of advisers are dragging the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) to wrong decisions," the minister wrote on X.

Israel and Lebanon agreed Wednesday to implement a ceasefire but said it would require a "complete cessation" of fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to a joint statement after US-led talks in Washington, said AFP.

Arab World

Lebanon’s Shiite Duo Drops Israeli Withdrawal Demand in Ceasefire Talks

The Lebanese delegation participating in the Washington talks on Tuesday (Reuters) 
The Lebanese delegation participating in the Washington talks on Tuesday (Reuters) 
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Lebanon’s Shiite Duo Drops Israeli Withdrawal Demand in Ceasefire Talks

The Lebanese delegation participating in the Washington talks on Tuesday (Reuters) 
The Lebanese delegation participating in the Washington talks on Tuesday (Reuters) 

Recent statements by Lebanon’s Shiite duo - the Amal Movement and Hezbollah - indicate a tacit acceptance that Israeli forces could remain in Lebanese territory during an anticipated ceasefire phase.

This marks a shift from their previous insistence that any truce be accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal, the return of displaced residents to their villages, and the reconstruction of areas devastated by the war with Israel since 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday blamed Hezbollah for the latest escalation, telling CNBC that it was being driven by Hezbollah rather than Israel and that his government remained committed to the ceasefire.

He also said that US President Donald Trump shares his objective of stripping Hezbollah of its arsenal and turning Lebanon into a demilitarized state.

A Lebanese source involved in ongoing contacts between Beirut and Washington said the demands of the Shiite duo, represented in negotiations by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, no longer focus on Israeli withdrawal or reconstruction.

Instead, the source said, their position is now limited to securing a ceasefire across land, sea and air, along with an end to the demolition and bulldozing operations carried out by Israeli forces in occupied Lebanese territory.

However, sources familiar with the duo’s position told Asharq Al-Awsat that the immediate objective is achieving a ceasefire in all its dimensions, stressing that subsequent steps — including an Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction efforts, and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to areas vacated by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon — would follow once a truce is in place.

Lebanese and Israeli diplomats held a second day of direct talks in Washington on Wednesday, the fourth such round since the outbreak of the war on March 2. The discussions coincided with an Israeli military escalation and intensified Lebanese contacts with Washington aimed at pressing Israel to implement a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon that would also apply to Hezbollah.

On Monday evening, Trump announced that a de-escalation arrangement had been reached between Hezbollah and Israel, saying that Israel would refrain from attacking Hezbollah and that Hezbollah would likewise refrain from attacking Israel. He also revealed he had stopped an Israeli strike on Beirut.

Israel on Tuesday underscored what it described as a “new equation,” under which it would strike Beirut’s southern suburbs if Hezbollah targeted northern Israel, adding that the United States had endorsed the principle.

Hezbollah Deputy Chairman of the Political Council Mahmoud Qomati told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday that the group would not accept any partial ceasefire agreement and rejected any arrangement that would trade an end to Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs for a halt to Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom voiced support for Lebanon’s negotiating efforts. The Lebanese presidency said President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell to discuss security and military developments in Lebanon, as well as the course of negotiations.

Powell reaffirmed Britain’s support for Lebanon and its political choices aimed at preserving the country’s security and stability, according to the presidency.

 

 

Arab World

Iraq Faces Delayed Showdown with Factions Rejecting State Arms Control

Members of Asaib Ahl al-Haq take part in a Quds Day march in Baghdad on July 1, 2016. (AP)
Members of Asaib Ahl al-Haq take part in a Quds Day march in Baghdad on July 1, 2016. (AP)
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Iraq Faces Delayed Showdown with Factions Rejecting State Arms Control

Members of Asaib Ahl al-Haq take part in a Quds Day march in Baghdad on July 1, 2016. (AP)
Members of Asaib Ahl al-Haq take part in a Quds Day march in Baghdad on July 1, 2016. (AP)

Observers in Baghdad say a long-delayed confrontation may be looming with factions that reject the principle of “placing arms under state control,” a move announced by political groups and welcomed by the Iraqi government and the United States.

The warnings come as reports suggest the US-backed government of Ali al-Zaidi could approve military appointments inside the Popular Mobilization Forces as part of a plan to restructure the powerful paramilitary body.

Within one week, the Sadrist movement, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Imam Ali announced they were breaking away from the Popular Mobilization Forces.

The factions had overseen about seven brigades inside the body, but their fighters no longer appear to take orders from political and party leaders.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi agreed with delegations from Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Imam Ali to form a joint committee to implement measures to place arms under state control within the next two days.

In a statement, al-Zaidi said Iraq was undergoing an important transition after major gains in security, making the current phase one of construction, reconstruction and broad development.

Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan on Wednesday urged resistance factions to “join their brothers and lay down their arms.” He thanked Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, Asaib Ahl al-Haq Secretary General Qais al-Khazali and Kataib Imam Ali Secretary General Shibl al-Zaidi for backing state control over arms.

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, meanwhile, renewed its rejection of “disarmament” and its commitment to “resistance.” In a statement, the movement said: “al-Nujaba remains steadfast and has not, and will not, change its position on the sacred and disciplined weapon that exists to defend Iraq, its holy sites and its people.”

Its leader, Akram al-Kaabi, had accused Israel in a post on X of “inciting the US Embassy chargé d’affaires in Iraq to speak about the weapons of the resistance.” He said he regretted that “a small number of Iraqis have become mouthpieces for them,” and urged armed factions to “reject the very idea of discussing this matter.”

Many remain skeptical of what has become known as “placing arms under state control,” citing the absence of clear technical mechanisms for implementation and Iran’s silence over the weapons held by its proxies in Baghdad.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba are the most prominent factions to have openly rejected “state control over arms” and affirmed their commitment to the “option of resistance.” An unknown faction calling itself Ashab Ahl al-Kahf has threatened to resume operations against Israel.

Support among Iraqi factions for “placing arms under state control” is accelerating, amid US satisfaction that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has secured a political mandate to “consolidate stability in the country.”

The Coordination Framework authorized al-Zaidi to take the decisions and measures needed to protect the country’s higher interests. It also backed “placing arms under state control and severing the Popular Mobilization Forces’ links to political and party frameworks.”

US Embassy chargé d’affaires Joshua Harris described the Coordination Framework’s mandate for al-Zaidi as a qualitative step toward consolidating independence and sovereignty for Iraq’s promising future, and affirmed Washington’s support for government measures to place arms under state control.

The confrontation

Political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that political leaders and government officials are closely watching the groups resisting state control over arms under national understandings.

They said, “The door to confrontation will remain open, whether between the Iraqi government and the rebellious factions, or between Washington and Tehran, which has neither endorsed nor opposed the announcement by other factions of their intention to hand over their weapons.”

Tom Barrack, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iraq and Syria, had congratulated Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on the start of efforts to place arms under state control, calling the latest steps important progress toward consolidating stability and restoring sovereignty.

In a post on X, Barrack said the move represented the first building block of renewed Iraqi governance based on self-administration.

Barrack’s praise for the Shiite groups that decided to return all weapons to the Iraqi state was notable. He described their decision as an essential step toward strengthening order and stability and building state institutions.

The Iraqi government, by contrast, has so far limited itself to welcoming the positions of armed factions without disclosing its practical plan to place arms under state control. It remains unclear which government body would receive the weapons.

Security observers say Washington is focused on removing strategic weapons such as suicide drones, cruise missiles and anti-armor launchers. No accurate data is available on how many such weapons the factions hold.

Security reports indicate that part of the plan involves “reorganizing and restructuring the Popular Mobilization Forces through some changes in the current leadership and involving military commanders with experience in managing the infrastructure of the body’s fighters.”

The struggle for influence

Observers are tracking shifts in the “struggle for influence” between Washington and Tehran in Iraq.

Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the Political Thinking Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the United States will no longer need to share influence with Tehran in Iraq after the new balance of power in the region.”

On the factions loyal to Iran, al-Shammari said “the announcement by four or five factions that they will hand over their weapons” was not enough to convince Washington that the complex file had been closed, especially as Kataib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and al-Nujaba “possess the most dangerous arsenal and still refuse to hand it over.”

Al-Shammari said, “The US decision is that Iraq should be free of weapons in the hands of Iran’s allies, and that their system should be dismantled at all military, political and economic levels.”

Researcher Abbas Abboud Salem said the process of placing arms under state control would, in practice, distinguish between groups engaged in political life through parliamentary representation and government work, and those ideologically and politically tied to Iran.

He said the latter “see their existence and the continuation of their weapons as part of a regional function of confrontation with the United States.”

The disarmament plan

Asharq Al-Awsat reported on May 9, 2026, that an Iraqi committee, including Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, was working to complete an “executive project” to disarm armed factions before presenting it to Washington, amid mounting US pressure to keep militias away from the new government and state institutions.

The committee had presented militia leaders with “ideas on how to disarm,” but some meetings “did not pass calmly,” according to informed sources.

The plan includes removing heavy and medium weapons and restructuring the Popular Mobilization Forces, alongside expected changes to sensitive security agencies, including the intelligence service.

But political sources questioned the government’s ability to implement the project, saying it may be aimed at “buying time.” Prominent factions, including Kataib Hezbollah and al-Nujaba, have said they will not hand over their weapons “whatever the cost.”