The IDF said early Saturday it was striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut, as rocket fire and suspected drone infiltrations triggered repeated sirens across northern Israel.
Alerts were activated in Kiryat Shmona, Misgav Am and surrounding communities in the Galilee panhandle, as well as in the Rosh Pina area and earlier in Nahariya and the western Galilee.
Ahead of the strikes, the IDF issued an urgent evacuation warning to residents in several neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Lailaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Tahwitat al-Ghadir and Shiyah. The statement said the military was targeting Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure and urged civilians to leave the areas immediately for their safety.
The military said the strikes focused on the Dahieh district, a Hezbollah stronghold. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The escalation marks the third week of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, which began attacks on March 2 in support of Tehran. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over 1 million displaced, according to estimates.