‘Israel’ strikes Hezbollah as Iran war spreads across region

For the first time since the 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah launched a "retaliation" barrage of rockets and drones at northern ‘Israel’ in response to the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This prompted immediate, large-scale ‘Israeli’ airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon, causing thousands of civilians to flee north toward Sidon.

Trump announced that the US and ‘Israel’ are prepared to maintain this level of intensity for four to five weeks, confirming the first American deaths (three service members in Kuwait) while vowing to deliver a "punishing blow" to the Iranian regime until all strategic objectives are met.

Israel bombarded Lebanon on Monday, expanding conflict across the region after the massive ‘Israel’-US attack on Iran that President Donald Trump launched to topple Tehran's leadership.

‘Israeli’ forces pounded targets across Lebanon including Beirut, after Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed armed movement fired rockets towards ‘Israel’ in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Large-scale strikes" were also ongoing in the heart of Tehran, ‘Israeli’ forces said, as the US military widened its targets across Iran on Sunday.

Retaliating against the heavy strikes that Washington said destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian forces fired missiles and drones across the Middle East, claiming lives in ‘Israel’ and the United Arab Emirates.

Fresh explosions were heard across Doha, Dubai and Manama on Monday morning.

Trump vowed to avenge the first US deaths, telling the New York Times that the United States and ‘Israel’ could keep up the same level of attacks for four to five weeks.

"It won't be difficult. We have tremendous amounts of ammunition," he said, adding he had a shortlist of three unnamed people he favoured to lead Iran after the war.

But Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Tehran's Supreme National Security Council voiced defiance.

Iran "will not negotiate with the United States," he wrote on X, adding that "Trump plunged the region into chaos with his 'delusional fantasies' and now fears more American troop casualties."

“Most punishing blow”

Trump and ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged Iranians to overthrow the government in Iran, the sworn foe of ‘Israel’ and the United States since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.

In a video address, Trump urged Iranian security forces "to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death."

"It will be certain death," he repeated. "It won't be pretty."

The Pentagon said that three US service members were killed in the operation and five seriously wounded in the operation it has called "Epic Fury."

"Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends," Trump said.

"But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization."

Trump, who campaigned denouncing foreign interventions, has done little to explain the case for war to the US public.

Attacks across Middle East

Explosions rocked Beirut before dawn and southern Lebanon residents fled, after the ‘Israeli’ military announced it was striking both parts of the country.

In the city of Sidon, cars of families escaping from further south packed roads. Some vehicles had mattresses tied to the roof.

Hezbollah, which was weakened by an earlier ‘Israeli’ offensive, said it had fired rockets and drones at ‘Israel’ "in retaliation for the pure blood" of Khamenei -- the first time it has claimed such an attack since a November 2024 ceasefire agreement following a year of war between them.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has pushed for Hezbollah's disarmament, called Monday's rocket fire "irresponsible".

Such action "endangers Lebanon's security and safety, and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks on it", Salam said on X.