Israel hits Lebanon after Hezbollah attacks; in Iraq, militia targets U.S. troops
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- The Israeli military hit Beirut on Monday and urged people in nearly 50 villages in Lebanon to evacuate ahead of possible retaliatory strikes after Hezbollah fired into Israel.
- in Iraq, the Shiite militia Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed a drone attack Monday targeting U.S. troops at the airport in Baghdad.
DUBAI — In the latest sign of the expanding reach of the war in the Middle East, Israel launched strikes on Beirut after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border early Monday.
The Israeli military urged people in nearly 50 villages in Lebanon to evacuate ahead of possible retaliatory strikes after the Hezbollah attacks in Israel.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, the Shiite militia Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed a drone attack Monday targeting U.S. troops at the airport in Baghdad. The group is one of a number of Shiite militias operating in Iraq. The U.S. and Iraq did not immediately comment on the claim. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence information, confirmed the attack.
The Hezbollah and Saraya Awliya al-Dam attacks both came in response to the U.S.-Israeli air campaign that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
The Israeli military urged civilians in eastern and southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes and move more than 1,000 yards away from villages to open areas.
It was the first time in more than a year that the Lebanese militant group has claimed a strike against Israel. The Israeli military said Hezbollah had “joined the campaign” alongside Iran.
Hezbollah said in a statement that its strikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei and for “repeated Israeli aggressions.”
Associated Press journalists in Beirut were jolted awake by a series of loud explosions that shook buildings and caused windows to shatter. Warplanes could be heard flying low overhead.
Lebanese government officials had urged Hezbollah not to enter the fray in support of Iran, fearing another war. The country has not recovered from the last Israel-Hezbollah war, which nominally ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024. Since then, Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes in Lebanon aimed at stopping Hezbollah from regrouping.
Iran’s proxies were a chief concern for U.S. and Israeli officials before they attacked Iran this weekend.
Gambrell, Lidman, Boak and Tucker write for the Associated Press and reported from Dubai; Tel Aviv; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Washington, respectively.
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