Israel Strikes Beirut as Iran Launches Missiles, Raising Fears of Wider Middle East Conflict

Tensions in the Middle East intensified after Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, marking the first attack in the area since a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Lebanon was announced last week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was ordered after Hezbollah fired projectiles toward Israel from Lebanese territory.

The attack targeted Dahiyeh, a district known as a Hezbollah stronghold. Israel also issued evacuation warnings for parts of Tyre and surrounding areas ahead of possible military operations.

Iran Responds With Missile Attack on Israel

Hours after the Beirut strike, Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israeli targets. Israeli military officials said the missiles were detected and intercepted by air defense systems, though authorities did not immediately provide details about possible damage.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared an image featuring the Iranian and Lebanese flags following the missile attack. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded with a strong statement calling for harsh action against Tehran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf said U.S. bases and Israeli assets were legitimate targets due to what he described as violations of agreements related to Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei warned that Iran would deliver a “decisive and painful response” to Israeli actions.

Trump Warns as Regional Crisis Deepens

The latest escalation comes as efforts to reach a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran remain stalled. Donald Trump said negotiations were close to a deal but warned that military action could resume if no agreement is reached.