Israel Launches Wide-Ranging Strikes on Lebanon After Hezbollah Rocket Attack, Dozens Killed

March 2, 2026 • 15:43 UTC WNS News Desk 10 min read

BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes carried out intensive airstrikes across Lebanon early on March 2, 2026, killing at least 31 people and wounding 149 others in the most significant escalation between the two countries since a US-brokered ceasefire ended major fighting 18 months ago .

The strikes targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as areas near the city’s international airport and multiple towns in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley . The Israeli military said it was acting in response to rocket and drone fire from Lebanese territory toward northern Israel, which Hezbollah claimed as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28 .

Lebanon’s Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health, said the casualty figures are preliminary and warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue and hospitals finalize reports . Ambulances rushed to affected areas to evacuate casualties, with hospitals described as overwhelmed by the number of wounded .

Hezbollah’s Retaliation and Israel’s Response

The Lebanese militia group announced in a statement that it had launched missiles and drones toward Israel “in retaliation for the pure blood of the Guardian of the Muslims … which was unjustly and treacherously shed by the criminal Zionist enemy, and in defense of Lebanon and its people” . The group said it targeted the Mishmar HaCarmel missile defense site south of the occupied city of Haifa with “a salvo of advanced rockets and a swarm of drones” shortly after midnight between Sunday and Monday .

Israeli media reported that around six rockets were fired in the barrage, marking the first such attack since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement . The Israeli military said it intercepted a projectile that crossed the border while several others fell in open areas, with no injuries or damage initially reported on the Israeli side .

In response, the Israeli army launched a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon, with military officials saying they were targeting “senior Hezbollah members” in Beirut and a “key operative” in southern Lebanon . Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, head of the Israel Defense Forces, announced that Israel had shifted from defense to an “offensive campaign” and warned of “many days of fighting” .

Rafi Milo, chief of the IDF’s Northern Command, issued a stark warning: “Hezbollah Chose the Iranian Regime Over the State of Lebanon and Initiated an Attack on Our Civilians. We Were Prepared – and They Will Pay a Heavy Price” . He said the military would “continue to protect” residents in northern Israel and was “acting to evacuate civilians in southern Lebanon ahead of further strikes” .

Civilian Casualties and Widespread Destruction

An Anadolu correspondent reported that a heavy Israeli airstrike struck the town of Srifa in southern Lebanon, while two additional strikes hit the Al-Salihiya neighborhood in Nabatieh, causing massive destruction and fires in buildings and vehicles . Israeli airstrikes also targeted the outskirts of Al-Shahabiya and Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon .

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, strikes hit Haret Hreik and Al-Jamous, with witnesses describing extensive damage and residents fleeing on foot and by car, clogging roads as the series of strikes began around 2:40 a.m. local time . Areas near Beirut International Airport were also affected .

The Israeli military warned residents of 53 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley to evacuate and stay at least one kilometer away ahead of planned attacks . Displacement was reported from Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon toward central Beirut and Mount Lebanon following the heavy airstrikes .

The strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians, including two children, and the wounding of 149 others, according to Lebanese health authorities . The toll is preliminary, with officials warning it could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue .

Lebanese Government Condemns Rocket Launches

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a strong condemnation of the rocket launches from southern Lebanon, calling them an “irresponsible and suspicious act” that endangers the country’s security and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks .

“Regardless of the party behind it, the rocket launch from southern Lebanon is a reckless and suspicious act that endangers Lebanon’s security and safety and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks,” Salam said . He added that Lebanon “will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures” and that authorities would take all necessary measures to identify those responsible and protect the Lebanese people .

Salam’s statement reflected the Lebanese government’s long-standing effort to distance the country from regional conflicts, particularly those involving Iran and its allies. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had received a message from the US ambassador on March 1, conveying that Israel would not escalate against Lebanon as long as there were no hostile acts from the Lebanese side . The rocket attack effectively nullified that understanding.

Broader Regional Conflict Expands

Monday’s escalation between Israel and Hezbollah marks a significant widening of the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Those strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leadership figures, triggering waves of retaliation across the region .

The conflict has now drawn in multiple fronts. Explosions were reported in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and other Gulf cities, with Kuwait saying it intercepted hostile drones . Bahrain reported that debris from an intercepted missile struck a ship, killing one person and injuring two . Cyprus was placed on alert after a drone strike caused limited damage at the RAF base in Akrotiri .

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain issued a joint statement Sunday, saying their countries retain “the legal right to respond and the right to self-defence” after Iranian strikes hit hotels, airports, and other sites throughout the Gulf .

US President Donald Trump said American forces would “avenge” the deaths of three service members killed in the conflict and warned that “there will likely be more” before it ends . In a video message, he called the fallen service members “true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation” .

International Reaction and Diplomatic Efforts

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called on all Lebanese parties to prioritize the protection of the Lebanese people and translate words into concrete actions that distance Lebanon from the rapid regional developments threatening the stability of the entire region .

Iran strongly condemned the Israeli strikes, with Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei describing them as “brutal airstrikes” and referring to the “inaction of the United Nations and its Security Council against the crimes and rebellion of the occupying regime” as something that “will irreparably discredit the United Nations system and the norms that emerged from it” .

Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement saying they were ready to work with the US to help stop Iran’s attacks, expressing themselves “appalled” by Iran’s “reckless” strikes on their allies .

The United States had conveyed an urgent diplomatic message to Lebanese authorities before the escalation, affirming that the Israeli side did not plan to expand its operations against Lebanon as long as calm prevailed . That commitment now lies in ruins as the conflict expands to yet another front.

Hezbollah’s Position and Future Trajectory

Hezbollah, severely weakened by its 2024 war with Israel, had not claimed a strike against Israel for more than a year before Monday’s attack . The group decided to cancel a memorial ceremony where its Secretary-General Naim Qassem was scheduled to speak, citing current security and political developments . Qassem had previously warned that any comprehensive war against Iran could ignite the entire region .

The group called on the peoples and countries of the region to stand against what it described as the aggressive scheme against Iran, warning of dire consequences that could affect everyone . But with strong ideological, religious, and financial ties to Iran, analysts noted it was almost inevitable the group would be pulled into a conflict in which almost every country in the Middle East is now embroiled .

For Lebanon, a country already suffering from years of economic crisis and political instability, the new front opening on its territory threatens further devastation. The Lebanese government’s efforts to remain neutral have been swept aside by regional dynamics beyond its control. As one observer noted, Lebanon now finds itself once again caught between the world’s most powerful militaries, with its people paying the heaviest price.

With inputs from

For broader context, see our in-depth analysis on Modern World Order Explained: Power, Alliances & Global Systems.

Also in this section: Kuwait Says Airport Fuel Tanks Ablaze After Iran Drone Attack, Summons Ambassador, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Calls for Clarity from Trump on Objectives of Iran War.

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