Israel Vows Wider Hezbollah Strikes After Beirut Attack Kills 2 as Iran Warns of Severe Response
Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jun 9
Israel Vows Wider Hezbollah Strikes After Beirut Attack Kills 2 as Iran Warns of Severe Response
3 articles · Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jun 9
Summary
Israel said it will intensify operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon after strikes in Beirut's suburbs killed two people and wounded 20.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the IDF would keep operating in Lebanon despite Iran's warning that continued Israeli action there would trigger "severe" measures.
Iran earlier said it was suspending its operation against Israel unless "aggression and hostility" persisted, explicitly including Israeli actions in southern Lebanon.
The escalation comes after Iran fired missiles at Israel for the first time since a fragile early-April ceasefire, widening pressure on an already unstable regional truce.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran's top diplomat, discussed the latest developments with counterparts in Britain, France and Turkey, as well as Qatar's leader and Pakistani mediators.
Why is the US halting direct strikes on Iran while allowing the devastating proxy war in Lebanon to intensify?
How has Hezbollah managed a military resurgence after losing its leader and facing a sustained Israeli offensive?
The 2026 Middle East Crisis: Humanitarian Disaster and Global Oil Shock After U.S.-Israeli Strikes on Iran
Overview
The 2026 conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Iran quickly appointed a new leader and retaliated by attacking U.S. and Israeli targets, while its allies, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, launched rockets and missiles at Israel. In response, Israel began a large-scale military campaign in southern Lebanon, escalating violence and causing widespread casualties and displacement. This chain of actions has deepened the humanitarian crisis and heightened the risk of a broader regional war, with severe consequences for civilians and global stability.