IDF Strikes Lebanon After Hezbollah Joins War - UAVs and Rockets Launched Toward Israel

The Israel Defense Forces began striking targets in Lebanon overnight Monday after Hezbollah joined the fighting and launched missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles toward Israel.

Air raid sirens sounded across the Galilee and Golan Heights following reported UAV infiltrations, and in the Haifa area after rocket fire. The IDF said the Air Force intercepted one missile and one drone, while another missile fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.

Explosions were also heard in central Israel, after which the military announced that additional launches from Lebanon had been intercepted over open areas. In one Galilee moshav, two homes sustained light damage from debris caused by an interception. The IDF confirmed the interception occurred above the community.

Targeted Strikes in Beirut and Southern Lebanon

The military said its airstrikes in Beirut were aimed at senior Hezbollah operatives. Another strike in southern Lebanon targeted what was described as a key figure in the organization.

Lt. Col. Ella Wa'ya, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, issued evacuation notices to residents in dozens of villages in southern Lebanon. “Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, its facilities and its weapons is putting their lives at risk,” she said.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported mass evacuations from southern areas and from the Dahieh neighborhood in Beirut following the attacks.

Lebanese Leadership Warns Against Escalation

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the rocket fire toward Israel, calling it “irresponsible” and warning that it jeopardizes Lebanon’s security. President Joseph Aoun cautioned against using Lebanon as a proxy in attacks against Israel.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it launched rockets toward the Carmel region “in revenge for the blood of the leader of the Muslims, Ali Khamenei,” and described the move as a “legitimate defensive response.”

Israeli security officials said they had anticipated the possibility of Hezbollah’s involvement and had reinforced the northern border while mobilizing reservists. According to Israeli assessments, Hezbollah understands that deeper entry into the conflict could trigger extensive Israeli strikes against the group and Lebanese infrastructure, potentially with American backing.

Regional Tensions Rise

In addition to Hezbollah, Shiite militias in Iraq are believed to be assisting Iran. Lebanese media reported internal pressure on Hezbollah to avoid a broader escalation, amid fears of severe consequences for Lebanon, which remains mired in economic and political crisis.

Over the weekend, Salam wrote on X that Beirut would not accept “anyone who would drag the country into adventures and threaten its security and unity.”

Israeli Gains in Iran, But Fears of Prolonged Conflict

Israeli officials say they are encouraged by the results of the campaign in Iran but remain wary of a drawn-out war of attrition if Tehran refuses to meet U.S. conditions.

Security sources said Iran established a decentralized command mechanism after the June conflict to ensure continuity of operations even if senior leadership figures were eliminated. However, Israeli officials assess that recent targeted killings have disrupted command-and-control structures.

In the current campaign, central headquarters in Tehran were struck, including facilities associated with the Internal Security Forces and the Tharallah headquarters responsible for defending the capital. The IDF believes the destruction of these command centers hampers the regime’s ability to maintain internal stability and coordinate military operations.

Missile Capabilities and U.S. Considerations

According to Israeli intelligence estimates, Iran possessed roughly 3,000 ballistic missiles before the current operation and had planned to increase the stockpile to approximately 8,000 within a year. The IDF says recent strikes destroyed hundreds of missiles and prevented the production of at least 1,500 more. Iranian efforts to relocate production infrastructure underground are ongoing, Israeli officials say.

So far, Iran’s response has been more limited than in previous confrontations, with dozens rather than hundreds of missiles launched. Israeli sources attribute this partly to the decentralized structure now managing operations.

At the same time, Israeli officials express concern that the U.S. administration led by Donald Trump may seek to end the fighting sooner rather than later, in an effort to avoid prolonged entanglement in the Middle East.

Security sources warn that a premature halt to the operation, before strategic goals are fully achieved, could allow Iran to rebuild its capabilities — potentially setting the stage for renewed conflict in the coming years.