Renewed Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs on Monday, following a wave of overnight raids from Sunday into Monday that struck the Dahye area and multiple locations across southern Lebanon.
Shortly after the latest strike, Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the military had targeted “a prominent terrorist operative in Hezbollah in Beirut.” He did not immediately provide further details on the identity of the target or the outcome of the strike.
The escalation came hours after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned that Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for firing on Israel.” The pro-Iranian group had launched missiles into Israeli territory overnight from Sunday to Monday, shortly before Israel intensified its strikes.
In parallel remarks, Adraee said that “all options are on the table” regarding a potential ground incursion into Lebanon. Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the Israeli army is preparing for a possible operation aimed at establishing what it described as a “defensive line.”
Earlier on Monday, Israeli warplanes carried out raids on Burj al-Shamali in the Tyre district, while additional strikes were reported in Srifa, Mansouri and Bayt al-Sayad. Two more raids later targeted Hanaya, the vicinity of Birkat Mays al-Jabal, Shuaytiya, Qana and the al-Kharayba neighborhood, as well as Kunin, the outskirts of Bafliya and Zibqin.
Israeli fighter jets also struck a wide range of towns and villages across southern Lebanon, including Nabatieh, Adshit, Maifdon, Harouf, Toul, al-Kfour, Deir Qanoun Ras, Barish, Siddiqin, al-Majdal, Mahrouna, al-Taybeh, al-Mansouri, Jabal al-Botom, al-Jmaijma, Batouleh, al-Bazouriya, Tirflesh, al-Halousiya, Tayr Debba, al-Samaaiya, Ain Baal, al-Qulaila, al-Shahabiya and Qlawiya, among others.
The Lebanese Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health said the Israeli raids on the southern suburbs and southern Lebanon resulted in a preliminary toll of 31 people killed and 149 injured.
In a statement, the ministry said 20 were killed and 91 wounded in Beirut’s southern suburbs, while 11 were killed and 58 injured in the south. The toll remains non-final, officials added.
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