Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered attacks on southern Beirut. The area is known as Dahieh. It is a stronghold of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
Netanyahu said the strikes are aimed at "terrorist targets." He blamed Hezbollah for attacking Israeli civilians. He also said Hezbollah has violated a ceasefire that was announced in April 2026.
That ceasefire was brokered by the United States. But it did not hold. Fighting has continued on both sides.
After Netanyahu made his statement, many Lebanese residents fled Beirut's southern suburbs. They feared more strikes were coming. A senior Lebanese official told BBC that Lebanon is depending on US efforts to stop Israeli actions. The official called for pressure to end civilian casualties.
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On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Netanyahu. He also spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A US official shared details of the call. Rubio proposed a simple first step. He asked Lebanese officials to pressure Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel. In return, Israel would agree not to escalate in Beirut.
The US said this step could create space for gradual de-escalation. It could also lead to a ceasefire that actually holds.
The Beaufort Castle Move
Before the Beirut strikes, Israeli troops made another move. They crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon. They seized Beaufort Castle. The castle is over 900 years old. It sits on a ridge with strong strategic importance.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the campaign is "not over." He added that Israel is "determined to crush Hezbollah's power."
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was sharp in his response. On Saturday, he accused Israel of following a "scorched-earth policy." He also used the term "collective punishment."
Lebanon was drawn into the broader war on 2 March. That was when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel. The rockets came in response to an Israeli strike. That strike had killed Iran's supreme leader.
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Israel responded with air strikes across Lebanon. A ground invasion followed.
The death toll in Lebanon has reached at least 3,371 people. This figure comes from Lebanon's health ministry. It does not separate combatants from civilians.
Israel has reported 24 soldiers killed since the war began. It has also reported four civilian deaths on both sides of the border.
Why This Matters?
This conflict is not just a regional issue. It involves Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, and the United States. Each action on one side leads to a reaction on the other.
Civilians on both sides are paying the price. Families are fleeing their homes. Communities are being destroyed.
The US is trying to broker peace. But a lasting solution has not been found yet. The situation remains tense and dangerous.
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