Summary
- Israel has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Beirut and across southern Lebanon.
- United States Central Command says US forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships after warnings over the Strait of Hormuz.
- The escalating confrontation involving Israel, the US, and Iran is raising fears of a broader regional war.
NAIROBI, Kenya— The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting positions linked to the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in southern Beirut and other parts of Lebanon as regional tensions continue to intensify.
The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern suburbs of Beirut, including facilities it described as operational sites used by the militant group.
Witnesses reported thick plumes of smoke rising above parts of the Lebanese capital following the bombardment.
Strikes Hit Southern Lebanon and Bekaa Valley
The airstrikes also targeted multiple locations across southern Lebanon shortly after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings urging residents to move at least 300 metres away from potential targets.
Lebanese officials and local media reported attacks in several towns, including:
- Tyre
- Qabrikha
- Deir Siryan
- Taybeh
Additional strikes were recorded in eastern regions and the Bekaa Valley, where several villages were bombarded overnight.
According to National News Agency, at least four people were injured in the southern town of Harouf following an Israeli air raid.
The Israeli military said one of the targets was a Hezbollah command centre in Ansariyeh, from where rockets were allegedly launched towards Israel.
Evacuation Warnings Issued in Beirut Stronghold
The escalation also reached Dahiyeh, the southern suburbs of Beirut widely considered a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings to residents in several neighbourhoods before carrying out strikes in the area.
Later, Israel’s Arabic-language military spokesperson issued another urgent warning to residents in parts of southern Lebanon, including:
- Arnon
- Yahmar
Residents were urged to evacuate immediately and move north of Nabatieh.
US Says 16 Iranian Mine Ships Destroyed
At the same time, the United States Central Command said US forces had “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships following warnings from Donald Trump to Tehran not to deploy naval mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The move highlights the growing involvement of the United States in the widening confrontation involving Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Fears of a Wider Regional War
Clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have intensified along the Lebanon–Israel border, with both sides accusing each other of escalating hostilities.
The fighting is unfolding alongside the broader confrontation involving Israel, Iran and the United States, raising fears that the conflict could expand across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns are mounting in Lebanon, where continued bombardment and cross-border clashes have already forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes in recent days.
