Published On 16/3/2026
Israeli forces resumed heavy shelling of Beirut’s southern suburbs early Monday, following a period of relative calm lasting approximately 48 hours. The renewed strikes are raising concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict.
According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent, the Israeli air force launched two strikes on the suburbs within less than an hour, targeting areas near the Haret Hreik neighborhood, with smoke rising from the impact sites.
An Israeli military spokesperson stated that forces are currently conducting operations targeting what they described as “infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah” in the Lebanese capital. The Israeli military has been conducting strikes in Lebanon for months.
The attacks on the suburbs came after a day that saw an increase in Israeli evacuation warnings, affecting seven areas repeatedly targeted.
In related developments, the Israeli air force carried out three strikes on the border town of Al-Khiam in the Nabatieh province of southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported 850 people killed and 2,105 injured since March 2nd, amid a wave of forced displacement affecting approximately one million people. The rising casualty count underscores the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Stalled Diplomatic Efforts
Sources within Israel revealed to Channel 12 that behind-the-scenes contacts are underway to explore the possibility of initiating negotiations between Tel Aviv and Beirut, suggesting potential talks in the coming days.
These developments come as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is leading efforts to open direct lines of communication, with French support from President Emmanuel Macron, but these efforts are hampered by several obstacles, including a lack of a clear U.S. Position and Israel’s insistence on continuing military operations.
Reports also indicate internal divisions within the Lebanese position, with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri demanding a comprehensive ceasefire before any negotiations can initiate, while elements within Hezbollah have expressed reservations about these initiatives, believing they will not yield results given the continued Israeli bombardment that expanded to Lebanon following the regional war that erupted in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in late February.
