Israel conducted fresh strikes on central Beirut Thursday, issuing evacuation warnings before the attack as tensions with Hezbollah intensify. The Israeli military threatened to expand operations and seize Lebanese territory if Hezbollah continues its attacks. The strikes came alongside widened evacuation orders for residents in southern Lebanon.
The escalation reflects growing regional instability as Israel faces pressure on multiple fronts. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has maintained cross-border attacks despite Israeli warnings. The threat to seize Lebanese territory marks a significant escalation in Israeli rhetoric toward its northern neighbor.
Separately, air strikes in Iraq killed at least 30 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an Iran-backed paramilitary umbrella group. The attacks targeted Camp Saqr, the PMF headquarters in Anbar province, and killed another fighter in Kirkuk. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the strikes.
The simultaneous military actions across Lebanon and Iraq suggest coordinated operations against Iranian proxies. Both incidents risk further destabilizing an already volatile region where proxy conflicts have intensified. The strikes may prompt retaliatory measures from Iran-aligned groups across the Middle East.