Israel strikes Beirut, targeting Hezbollah commander

The Israel Defense Forces said they carried out an airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, a significant escalation in the long-running conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah that European capitals fear could quickly snowball into a regional conflict.

The IDF said on X it was targeting the commander responsible for a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday that struck a football pitch, killing 12 children and youths from the Druze minority community.

Israel and the United States have attributed the attack to Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has strongly denied any involvement.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said Tuesday’s attack took place in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, known to be a stronghold of the Shiite militant group, and that two floors of the building that was struck had collapsed. Regional media named the target as Fuad Shukr but contradictory reports swirled about whether he died in the strike.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told Reuters that the Lebanese government condemned the Israeli attack and planned to file a complaint to the United Nations. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will convene an emergency Council of Ministers Wednesday morning, according to Lebanese media An-Nahar. 

Mikati called the strike a “violation of international law and humanitarian law.” 

Bou Habib said he “hoped” a potential response from Hezbollah wouldn’t lead to an escalation. The Lebanese government has no control over the Iran-backed Shiite organization. Earlier on Tuesday, Hezbollah rejected calls by international envoys to leave Israeli attacks unanswered. 

Israel had been expected to respond to Saturday’s blast, as it was one of the deadliest attacks on its territory since Israel and Hezbollah began trading cross-border fire shortly after the Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel, during which about 1,200 people were killed.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on X that “Hezbollah crossed the red line” shortly after the IDF’s announcement it had struck Beirut.

Speaking to reporters, United States Vice President Kamala Harris said: “Israel has a right to defend itself against a terrorist organization, which is exactly what Hezbollah is. But all of that being said, we still must work on a diplomatic solution to end these attacks and we will continue to do that work.”

The embassy of Iran, Hezbollah’s longtime backer, condemned the “sinful and cowardly” Israeli attack via X. Tehran’s reaction to an attack on its Shiite allies will be key as it launched a major missile assault against Israel in April.

Moscow also condemned the strike, with Russia’s foreign ministry telling the TASS news agency it was “a blatant violation of international law.” 

Lebanon’s National News Agency said Tuesday’s attack took place in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, known to be a stronghold of the Shiite militant group, and that two floors of the building that was struck had collapsed. | AFP via Getty Images

Tensions have been growing between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct. 7 and Israel’s ensuing military assault on the Gaza strip, which has now led to the death of almost 40,000 people. Israel fought a 34-day war against Hezbollah in 2006.

Speaking on Monday during a visit to the Israeli town that was hit, Majdal Shams, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the state of Israel will not, and cannot” ignore the strikes it has attributed to Hezbollah.

“Our response will come and it will be severe,” Netanyahu said. 

Fears of an Israeli retaliatory attack had prompted the United Kingdom to advise its citizens to leave Lebanon “due to risks associated with the ongoing conflict,” following the lead of other European countries such as Germany. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines and Air France suspended flights to and from Lebanon before the strike on Beirut.

European leaders and officials had been making frantic phone calls to their regional counterparts in an effort to stave off a wider conflagration, though it remains unclear how much influence they actually have over Israel, Hezbollah and Iran.

A Lebanese official told the Associated Press that Hezbollah doesn’t want a full-blown war against Israel but is ready to fight if a conflict erupts. The group started moving smart precision-guided missiles and preparing them for use if needed, the official said.

This breaking story is being updated.

Joe Stanley-Smith and Irie Sentner contributed reporting.