The last Israeli strike on Dahiyeh lead to a round of fighting with Iran [Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images]
Israel on Sunday launched fresh strikes on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and issued new displacement orders for towns in the country’s south, continuing its military campaign despite the US and Iran nearing a deal to end the war.
Three people were killed, and a further 15 were wounded in the strike on an apartment in the Ghobeiri area of Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Israel’s military claimed it struck a Hezbollah command centre, adding that the attack was in response to drones targeting northern Israel.
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir both publicly urged for more attacks on Dahiyeh, despite previous strikes leading to a round of fighting with Iran that jeopardised peace talks with the US.
Smotrich called for Netanyahu to implement the Dahiyeh doctrine, stating it should be done “with determination and force and bring down additional buildings in Dahiyeh today.”
“For every drone – a missile. For every violation – fire. For every drone – Dahiyeh must tremble. For every hair on the head of an IDF soldier – a thousand Hezbollah terrorists,” Ben-Gvir wrote on social media platform X, further inflaming tensions.
The attack on Dahiyeh comes as fighting intensifies in south Lebanon, with Israel issuing new displacement orders for 29 towns in the south, and residents being forced to move north of the Zahrani River.
Israel also conducted large-scale strikes elsewhere, according to the NNA, with a strike on the Hosh neighbourhood of the city of Tyre killing one and wounding four.
Strikes were also reported on Kfardounine, Burj al-Shamali and Haddatha.
The developments come as Hezbollah said it had been confronting Israeli troops in the country, launching rocket and artillery attacks against troops in the towns of Al-Adaysseh, Al-Qantara, and Majdal Zoun.
Drones also targeted Israeli troops in Yohmar Al-Shqif and the Sarda farm.
Iran warns it will respond
The attack on Dahiyeh has raised concerns over the conflict esclating, as Iran has repeatedly stated that any attacks on southern Beirut are a red line.
Iran’s Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Ghalibaf condemned Israel’s attacks on Dahiyeh on Sunday, writing in a post on X: “The Zionists’ incursion into Dahiyeh has once again shown that America either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so. By giving the green light to the regime, you cannot gain concessions”.
Israeli officials reportedly informed the US Central Command about the strikes prior to them taking place, according to Axios.
Iranian Brigadier General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters organising Iran’s war effort, vowed to respond to Israel’s strike.
“Without a doubt, these crimes will not go unanswered,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s Mizan news agency.
Israel’s military said that it was preparing for Iranian missile attacks in the coming hours.
Qatari mediators have been attempting to push the potential US-Iran deal over the line, sending several delegations to Iran in the last few weeks, with another arriving in Tehran on Sunday.
