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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

Attention Shifts to Lebanon’s Iqlim al-Tuffah amid Israeli Military Moves

Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in al-Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in al-Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
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Attention Shifts to Lebanon’s Iqlim al-Tuffah amid Israeli Military Moves

Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in al-Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in al-Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Military operations have escalated over the past few hours amid Israeli discussions regarding a transition to a "new phase" of occupation in southern Lebanon. Attack helicopters and tanks have been redeployed alongside airstrikes, artillery fire, and heavy weaponry sweeps.

Amid ongoing airstrikes, demolition operations, and movements on the ground, a critical question is being raised in Lebanon: Is the Israeli escalation limited to intensifying military pressure, or is it paving the way for a shift in the nature of operations and occupation in the South?

While the new date for the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations has not yet been set, the head of the Lebanese negotiating delegation, Simon Karam, is expected to visit the Vatican, where he will meet with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Foreign Minister Paul Richard Gallagher to discuss the negotiation file and the role the Vatican could play in supporting this path, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was in Rome recently where he discussed the negotiations.

On the ground, Israeli attacks continued in the South on Sunday where an Apache helicopter struck a commercial center on the Shokin-Mayfadoun road in the Nabatieh region, while heavy machine-gun sweeps targeted the towns of Beit Yahoun, Serbine, and Wadi Zibqeen.

An ambulance crew survived an airstrike that targeted a building while personnel were in the area conducting a field inspection following a previous raid, resulting in damage to shops and residential apartments in the targeted building.

An Israeli Merkava tank also targeted the town of Hadatha with four shells, before Israeli forces advanced toward a center in the town and set fire to the location. The Israeli army also demolished a number of houses in the town of al-Mansouri on Sunday.

The Israeli army announced that it attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, stating that the strikes came in response to the launch of an explosive-laden drone toward its forces during the past night.

Retired general and military expert Hassan Jouni said the recent Israeli operations could either be part of routine maneuvers or aimed at finalizing operations in the al-Mansouri area.

This comes as the Israeli army announced it is nearing the completion of its phase focused on destroying Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the region.

Consequently, the central question following the conclusion of this phase focuses on what Israel's next move will be, Jouni told Asharq Al-Awsat.

"According to Israeli sources and official positions, discussions are underway regarding a redeployment of the army into positions currently under preparation,” he added.

This would consolidate the Israeli military presence and its defensive positions in the buffer zone and along the borders of the Yellow Line, he said.

However, Israeli operations, particularly Saturday's targeting of the Jabal al-Rihan region and its surroundings, Jabal Safi, and Sejod, are troubling indicators regarding the potential launch of a military offensive in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, which lies geographically north of Ali al-Taher, added Jouni.

He explained that "Iqlim al-Tuffah is historically considered one of the last areas in southern Lebanon to house Hezbollah logistics bases. This raises the question of whether Israel has decided to continue operations and expand into this area, and whether Saturday’s actions will pave the way for an escalation or if the army was consolidating its defensive positions.”

Arab World

Halt of Iranian Flights Sparks Debate within Iraq’s Ruling Coalition

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets with US President Donald Trump in New York on September 23, 2026. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets with US President Donald Trump in New York on September 23, 2026. (Iraqi government)
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Halt of Iranian Flights Sparks Debate within Iraq’s Ruling Coalition

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets with US President Donald Trump in New York on September 23, 2026. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets with US President Donald Trump in New York on September 23, 2026. (Iraqi government)

The Iraqi government's decision to enforce the US Treasury Department's ban on Iranian aviation remains highly contentious, as factions within the ruling Coordination Framework refuse to comply despite Baghdad's officially declared commitment to the policy.

According to a government source, Baghdad has received a serious American warning against receiving any Iranian airline at Iraqi airports. The government of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had, however, requested that Washington grant it an exemption from the flight ban for certain airports, including Najaf airport, for humanitarian reasons.

According to an informed political source, "Iraq is currently caught between the American hammer and the Iranian anvil."

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the situation in reality appears extremely difficult, as complying with Tehran's desire to completely ignore the flight ban could result in sanctions that Iraq can no longer tolerate.”

“This is particularly critical given that a shipment of US dollars is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad soon, as part of successful talks held by al-Zaidi with the US administration, specifically President Donald Trump, during his participation in the United Nations General Assembly meetings,” it added.

According to the informed political source, "leaders of the Coordination Framework are attempting to strike a middle ground during their discussions with and in the presence of al-Zaidi, in terms of not going too far in defying the US decision, while simultaneously declaring their support for the PM’s efforts to secure a single exemption, even if only for Najaf airport."

A government source confirmed on Sunday that Baghdad "has received a serious and direct American warning that continuing to receive any Iranian airline at Iraqi airports exposes the airport, as well as the entities and companies providing services to these flights, to US sanctions."

"The Americans made it clear to the Iraqi government that the punitive measures will not be limited solely to the sanctioned Iranian airlines, but could also extend to any entity or airport providing services or facilitating the operation of those companies' flights, including landing, ground handling, refueling, and other services,” it said.

"This warning has left the government with a single option: to avoid exposing Iraqi airports, the aviation sector, and the operating entities to US sanctions,” it continued.

"The decision was not linked to an Iraqi political stance regarding air traffic with Iran, but rather came as a result of the legal and economic risks resulting from US sanctions,” it explained.

Arab World

Syrian Security Forces Arrest Official Responsible for Torture of Child Hamza al-Khatib in Daraa

Hamza al-Khatib became a symbol of the Syrian revolution. (SANA)
Hamza al-Khatib became a symbol of the Syrian revolution. (SANA)
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Syrian Security Forces Arrest Official Responsible for Torture of Child Hamza al-Khatib in Daraa

Hamza al-Khatib became a symbol of the Syrian revolution. (SANA)
Hamza al-Khatib became a symbol of the Syrian revolution. (SANA)

Syrian Internal Security Forces arrested Brig. Gen. Jaber Mehrez Ibrahim, who served as commander of the 138th Air Defense Brigade in the town of Saida during the era of the deposed regime, following a precise surveillance and tracking operation, reported Syria’s state news agency SANA on Sunday.

Records and preliminary investigations showed that Ibrahim was involved in issuing orders to kill and arrest people and suppress protesters, as well as participating in military campaigns targeting villages and towns in eastern Daraa countryside, pursuing civilians and targeting their homes.

Investigations also indicate that he was directly responsible for the Saida Housing massacre, in which nearly 120 people were killed, and that his name was linked to systematic arrests and torture involving a large number of people from the province, including child martyr Hamza al-Khatib.

The ousted regime arrested al-Khatib, 13, in the early days of the Syrian uprising that erupted in the city of Daraa on March 18, 2011. He died under torture in detention.

On May 21, 2011, al-Khatib’s tortured and mutilated body was returned to his family, weeks after his arrest during an anti-government demonstration.

His death, alongside the torture of other children and teenagers arrested for writing anti-Assad graffiti, triggered widespread protests and a brutal crackdown by government forces.

Following the ouster of the regime in December 2024, the new authorities launched a crackdown against former officials and military personnel. Ibrahim’s arrest is part of these ongoing prosecutions over allegations of abuses committed during the former regime's years in power.