Israel–Hezbollah clashes intensify, dozens killed in Lebanon amid regional escalation

(Horizon Weekly) – Heavy fighting has erupted between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, marking a significant escalation in the broader Middle East conflict triggered by recent developments in Iran.

On Sunday night into Monday, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward northern Israel, including areas near Haifa. The group said the barrage was retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier in strikes attributed to U.S. and Israeli forces.

In response, the Israeli Air Force carried out intense air strikes across Lebanon early Monday, hitting positions in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and other areas where Hezbollah maintains strongholds. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 31 people killed and around 149 wounded in the bombardment, including significant numbers of civilians.

Israeli military officials said their operations targeted senior Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, and warned of “many prolonged days of combat ahead” as part of an offensive campaign against Hezbollah. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also issued evacuation orders for dozens of villages near the Lebanese border, urging residents to leave areas at risk.

Lebanese authorities scrambled to distance the state from Hezbollah’s actions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the group’s decision to fire from Lebanese territory “outside the framework of its legitimate institutions,” and his government declared Hezbollah’s military actions unlawful, demanding the group disarm and turn over its weapons to the state — a highly contentious move in Lebanon’s fractured political landscape.

The violence has triggered waves of displacement, with residents fleeing south Lebanon and parts of Beirut to seek safety amid fears of intensifying strikes. Humanitarian concerns are mounting as families attempt to escape bombardment and seek shelter.

The clashes come amid a wider regional conflict involving Iranian retaliation and U.S.–Israeli operations, raising concerns that spiralling hostilities could engulf more of the Middle East in the coming days.