Israel renews Beirut strikes after Hezbollah rocket barrages

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to resume heavy attacks on Hezbollah's Dahiya stronghold in Beirut. This decision follows a surge in Hezbollah rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians in the northern regions.

The IDF reported that its ground troops have advanced beyond the Litani River, securing control of the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki areas. This move represents the farthest ground advance by the IDF since the April 17 ceasefire, reaching approximately 20 kilometers from the Israeli border.

Despite the IDF's operations and the previous ceasefire, Hezbollah has continued its attacks. Northern Israeli areas including Nahariya, Acre, Tel Dan, Beit Hillel, Kiryat Shmona, Safed, and Maalot experienced rocket and drone fire throughout Sunday. These attacks caused significant fires in Tel Dan and Beit Hillel, with reports of four injuries in Beit Hillel.

Hezbollah drone attacks in recent days have led to multiple IDF soldier fatalities, pushing the total casualties from drones post-ceasefire into double digits. Many civilians have been evacuating these areas, and schools have suspended classes.

The renewed strikes on Beirut come as top U.S. officials reportedly approved re-striking the area. The escalation also occurs amid prolonged Iran nuclear talks, where Washington had previously restrained Israel's actions in Lebanon as a potential concession to Tehran.

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Their statement came after top US officials green-lit re-striking Beirut, as the Iran nuclear talks have also dragged longer than US President Donald Trump had wanted, with Washington having held Israel back in Lebanon as a concession to the Islamic Republic, based on the assumption that a deal would have occurred in prior weeks.