Beirut, 2 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Dozens of people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, local authorities said on Monday.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 31 people were killed and 149 others injured in preliminary figures from the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern regions of the country.

The ministry described the figures as preliminary, cautioning that the death toll may rise as rescue teams continue search operations and hospitals complete their assessments of the injured.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned the Israeli strikes targeting the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

In a statement issued Monday, he denounced the continued use of Lebanon as a platform for "proxy wars."

He added that responsibility for the escalating risks lies with those who have disregarded repeated calls to preserve security and stability in the country.

Israel launches another wave of strikes

The Israeli military said it launched a fresh wave of airstrikes early Monday targeting positions of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.

The military said the targets included weapons depots and other infrastructure belonging to the Shiite group in several areas of the northern neighbouring country.

Hezbollah fired several rockets at Israel overnight, saying it was targeting a site south of the city of Haifa belonging to the Israeli military. One of the rockets was intercepted and several others landed in open areas, according to the Israeli military.

The militia said its attack was in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli-US airstrike on Saturday in the Iranian capital Tehran.

In response to the attack, Israel began bombardments in the Lebanese capital Beirut and other parts of the country, saying that senior Hezbollah members were hit, including another operative in the south.

The military had urged residents across southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes immediately after announcing it had started striking Hezbollah militia targets. It said it would not allow Hezbollah to constitute a threat to Israel and harm civilians.

Eyewitnesses told dpa that at least 10 strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, shaking buildings across the city.

Lebanese PM: Strikes give Israel pretexts to continue attacks

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement on X: "Regardless of who is behind it, the rocket fire from southern Lebanon is an irresponsible and suspicious act that endangers Lebanon's security and safety and gives Israel pretexts to continue its attacks on it."

"We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people."

The Prime Minister's office announced that an emergency Cabinet meeting will be held to address the latest developments and coordinate the national response.

Following the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon pledged its solidarity with Tehran.

Hezbollah is supported by Iran and is considered one of the strongest non-state actors in the world. Even after the recent war with Israel, in which the militia was severely weakened, it is said to still have considerable military capabilities.

This is the first time since the start of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in November 2024 that the Shiite militia has attacked Israel with rockets.

Photo: X