- By Ajeet Kumar
- Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:52 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah attacked Israel have killed at least 31 people, Lebanon's Health Ministry said on Monday. The Hezbollah attack and the Israeli retaliatory strikes expand the ongoing war gripping the Mideast after America and Israel launched an airstrike campaign targeting Iran.
The Health Ministry said that the strikes also wounded 149 people. It said about two-thirds of the dead were in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, as Kuwait faced an ongoing attack, the US issued an urgent warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors. It said: "Do not come to the Embassy," without elaborating.
Hezbollah strongholds
According to the Times of Israel, the areas are known for being Hezbollah strongholds; however, the ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and members of Hezbollah among the casualties.
The IDF confirmed the attacks, stating that the strikes targeted Hezbollah positions in retaliation for a rocket barrage fired by the Iranian-backed group toward northern Israel.
The escalating conflict in West Asia widened today following Israel's airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, following projectile fire from Lebanese territory into northern Israel.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said in a series of posts on X that it carried out targeted strikes against senior members of Hezbollah in the Beirut area in response to the projectile fire launched toward Israel, particularly towards the north of the country.
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"The Air Force struck a short time ago in a targeted manner, senior terrorists from the Hezbollah terror organization in the Beirut area. In parallel, the IDF struck a central terrorist from the Hezbollah terror organization in southern Lebanon. Further details to follow," the Israeli Air Force said.
Several projectiles crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory: IDF
According to the military, several projectiles crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some falling in open areas. In certain cases, no alerts were activated in accordance with policy.
The IAF said it was striking Hezbollah targets "with force" across Lebanon, accusing the group of operating under the backing of the Iranian regime and of opening fire on Israeli civilians.
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"The terrorist organization Hezbollah, operating under the auspices of the Iranian terrorist regime, opened fire against the State of Israel and its citizens. The IDF will act against the terrorist organization Hezbollah's decision to join the campaign and will not allow the organization to pose a threat to the State of Israel or harm residents of the north," the military said in another post.
The latest exchange of fire marks a significant widening of hostilities in the region, which has witnessed an unprecedented amount of projectile firing across several regional countries.
(With inputs from agencies)