Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 31 people on Monday, officials said, following rocket fire by the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah following the assassination 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 attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon, areas where Hezbollah has influence.
The escalation came as Lebanese authorities, who have been trying to save the country from any repercussions from the US-Israeli attack on Iran, said Hezbollah’s rocket fire gave Israel “excuses” to intensify its attacks.
Hezbollah’s overnight attack on Israel was the first time the Lebanese movement has claimed responsibility for an operation against Israel since a ceasefire in November 2024 sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the two.
The group announced around 3:00 a.m. (01:00 GMT) on Monday that it had attacked an Israeli army site south of the city of Haifa “with a barrage of high-quality missiles and a swarm of drones.”
Read moreLive: Israel calls for evacuations in Lebanon after attacks on Hezbollah
He said the move was “retaliation for the pure blood” of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and blamed his death on Israel after it launched attacks in a joint operation with the United States on Saturday.
“Hezbollah chose the Iranian regime instead of the state of Lebanon and launched an attack against our civilians… they will pay a high price,” said Rafi Milo, head of the Israeli army’s Northern Command.
“The attacks continue, their intensity will increase,” he said in a military statement hours after the first attacks were launched.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry gave an “initial number” of 31 dead in the Israeli attacks, 20 in Beirut’s southern suburbs and 11 in the south. He said at least 149 were injured.
In the capital’s southern suburbs, the attacks hit the top two floors of at least two buildings, according to an AFP photographer.
A fire broke out in one of the attacked apartments.
The bombings sparked 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 filled with families fleeing the attacks.
Israel’s strikes hit several areas in the south, including Kfur, Haris and Sultaniya.
Retaliation
Israel has carried out regular attacks on Lebanon since the 2024 ceasefire came into force, generally saying it is targeting the militant group and accusing it of truce violations.
Hezbollah has been weakened by the 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 targeted” 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 southern and eastern Lebanon, 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.
About three hours before Hezbollah’s statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Telegram channel said that “Hezbollah officially entered the war.”
The Israeli military said “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 pushing the country into regional conflict.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has pushed for the disarmament of Hezbollah, called Monday’s rocket fire “irresponsible.”
He vowed to “stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people.”
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said in a statement that “Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight and is fully responsible for any escalation.”
Lebanese authorities have repeatedly said they do not wish to involve their country in the outbreak of conflict in the region, which began after a massive attack by the United States and Israel against Iran.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
