Israel bombards Hezbollah targets in Beirut suburbs after drone strikes on its north

Hezbollah militants launched explosive‑drone attacks on Israel’s northern border area near Schlomi, causing two impacts but no casualties. Israel’s military reported the strikes and said sirens sounded in several border towns. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the attacks a test of the “Dahija doctrine” announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the southern Beirut suburbs (Dahija) as Hezbollah strongholds and demanding immediate destruction of buildings there.

In response, the Israeli Air Force struck a presumed Hezbollah command centre in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, using precision munitions and claiming steps were taken to minimise civilian damage. Lebanese authorities said at least one person was killed and several injured, with images of smoke and damaged buildings broadcast on local TV. Israel also warned residents of 29 towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of further operations.

Iran, allied with Hezbollah, warned that any U.S.‑Iran cease‑fire agreement must include a Lebanese cease‑fire, while Israel rejected any linkage of the two fronts. The escalation follows a week‑old Israeli raid on the same suburbs after Hezbollah rocket fire, which had prompted Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel’s north.