Overnight, Israel launched a series of attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon. Lebanon had launched projectiles toward northern Israel, which were intercepted.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East saw Israel launch retaliatory strikes in Lebanon on March 2, following rocket fire from Hezbollah. The exchange of attacks comes amid a broader regional conflict sparked by recent actions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
According to Lebanese authorities, the Israeli strikes have resulted in a rising death toll, reaching 52 with 154 reported injuries as of the latest update. The attacks have concentrated on areas south of Beirut, as well as regions in the south and east of the country, prompting over 28,500 people to flee their homes.
The strikes were initiated after Hezbollah announced it had launched rockets and drones toward the Israeli city of Haifa, claiming responsibility as retribution for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel’s defense minister vowed that Hezbollah would “pay a heavy price” and ordered the military to “act forcefully” against the group, designating its leader, Naim Qassem, as a “marked target for elimination.”
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, condemned Hezbollah’s actions as “irresponsible” and announced an immediate ban on the group’s military activities. The conflict has rapidly spread across the Middle East since the joint US-Israeli attack on Iranian leadership and armed forces on Saturday, with Iran responding by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and Gulf Arab states hosting US military bases.
Meanwhile, an Abu Dhabi complex housing the Israeli embassy was damaged by debris from an intercepted drone on March 1, according to reports. The European Commission has also announced the formation of a task force to monitor the energy market and mitigate potential repercussions from the escalating regional crisis, with its first meeting scheduled for this week.
Israel’s military stated on Monday that there was no immediate reason to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon, even as the overnight attacks continued. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for further escalation.
