Escalation in Lebanon: Netanyahu and Katz Order IDF Strike in Beirut’s Dahiya District

Tensions along Israel’s northern border are continuing, as since the morning hours (Monday), more than five launches were recorded from Lebanese territory toward communities in northern Israel, alongside repeated alerts about hostile aircraft infiltration. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister ישראל Katz announced that they had instructed the IDF to act against terror targets in the heart of Beirut.

In a joint statement, it was said: "Following Hezbollah’s repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon and the attacks against our cities and our citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister ישראל Katz ordered the IDF to strike terror targets in Beirut’s Dahiya district."

At the same time as the decision to carry out the strike, fire from Lebanon toward Israel continued. During the morning hours, more than five launches crossed the border toward northern communities. In addition, sirens were activated in communities in the western Galilee following suspicion of an unmanned aircraft infiltration.

IDF Spokesperson updated that following alerts activated at 08:15 in northern Israel, the Air Force intercepted two launches fired from Lebanon toward Israeli territory. A short time later, at 08:23, another alert was activated over hostile aircraft infiltration in the Margaliot area. The IDF said that the Air Force intercepted a suspicious aerial target identified in the area where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon. According to the military, the incident ended without casualties.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese newspaper "Al-Akhbar," which is identified with Hezbollah, published a report citing diplomatic sources claiming that Tehran had sent a message to mediators from Pakistan and Qatar regarding a possible arrangement in the region. According to the report, Iran clarified that the issue of the Lebanese front is not viewed by it as a bargaining chip within talks for a ceasefire.

According to those same sources, Tehran told the mediators that including the Lebanese arena in any future agreement is a condition from its perspective, alongside two additional conditions: lifting the blockade over Iran’s ports and the withdrawal of American forces from the Gulf region.