Israeli Strikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Conflict Broadens in Middle East

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has expanded to Lebanon, as Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut on early Monday, March 2.

Politico reported that Israel's attack in Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut killed 31 people and injured 149 others, citing the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Similar information was also reported by Al Jazeera, which stated that Israeli jets bombed the Lebanese capital after Hezbollah claimed to have launched rockets and drones at a military base in northern Israel.

Hezbollah stated that their attack was a response to the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the U.S. and Israeli air strikes last Saturday.

In an official statement, Hezbollah said, “The resistance leadership has always affirmed that the continuation of Israeli aggression and the assassination of our leaders, youth and people gives us the right to defend ourselves and respond at the appropriate time and place."

They also stated that Israel cannot continue its 15-month-long aggression without a warning response to cease the attacks and withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territory.

Israeli Defense Minister's Threat

Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that Hezbollah would pay a "heavy price" for the attack on Israel. He also referred to Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem as a marked target for assassination.

In a post on X platform, Katz wrote, "Whoever follows in the path of Khamenei will soon find himself with him in the depths of hell along with all the thwarted elements of the axis of evil.”

The Israeli military stated that they are targeting Hezbollah across Lebanon. In their statement, the military said, “The [Israeli military] will act against Hezbollah’s decision to join the campaign, and will not allow the organization to pose a threat to [Israel] and harm the residents of the north."

They also mentioned targeting senior Hezbollah members in Beirut and a key figure in southern Lebanon, without specifying their identities.

Israel issued evacuation warnings for residents in more than 50 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including Bint Jbeil, to stay at least one kilometer away from buildings suspected to be targets.

Meanwhile, Iran is alleged to have launched drone attacks on the Ras Tanura facility owned by Aramco in Saudi Arabia. The attack forced the largest oil refinery in the region to halt production to assess the damage.

But Iran denied that they attacked the oil refinery.

Despite the escalating tensions, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns that the attacks on Iran would lead to a prolonged war. During a briefing at the Pentagon, he said, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless. This is the opposite." Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that military operations against Iran could last for weeks.

Read: Lebanon: Israel Trades Fire with Hezbollah in South and East

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