Regional War Escalates: Israel Strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon as Iran Conflict Widens After Khamenei's Killing
The Middle East conflict, ignited by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the weekend, has rapidly expanded, opening a dangerous new front in Lebanon. On Monday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburbs, in response to rocket and drone attacks launched by the Iran-backed militant group into northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed the strikes were retaliation for Khamenei's death and "repeated Israeli aggressions," marking the first major breach of a fragile ceasefire agreement brokered in late 2024. Lebanese authorities reported at least 31 people killed and 149 injured in the Israeli strikes, with explosions rocking densely populated areas south of Beirut. Israel's military described the operations as precise, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, senior members, and sites used for rocket storage and launches. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued ...