Israel conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in response to what it described as Hezbollah fire at northern Israel. The strikes hit an apartment in the Ghobeiry neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh, causing damage and panic in the area. The Israeli military stated it had struck a Hezbollah command center in response to three projectiles launched by the group toward northern Israel earlier in the day. Hezbollah claimed several attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon but did not immediately confirm the attacks on northern Israel.
The escalation comes as the United States and Iran reportedly edge closer to a deal aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have warned that Israel would strike south Beirut if Hezbollah targeted northern Israeli communities. Netanyahu's office stated that the strikes were in response to Hezbollah's firing into Israeli territory. The Israeli military emphasized that precautions were taken to mitigate harm to civilians.
Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf criticized the strikes, suggesting they could derail the peace deal. He argued that Israel's actions showed a lack of U.S. commitment to the agreement. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, expressed confidence that the deal would be signed within the day. Meanwhile, Israel countered Iran's claims, stating that Hezbollah had acted unprovoked and that Israel would not tolerate attacks on its territory.
The strikes occurred amid broader Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, where evacuation warnings were issued for multiple locations, including the city of Nabatieh. The Israeli army declared all areas south of the Zahrani River as combat zones and has been conducting strikes in the region. Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since the conflict began in early March.