Smoke plumes billow following Israeli bombardment on Beirut's southern suburbs on March 2, 2026. IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP
Lebanon's government on Monday, March 2, took the unprecedented step of banning Hezbollah's military and security activity, prompting the Iran-backed group to lash out at the decision. Hezbollah is represented in both the government and parliament, and the move came hours after it announced it had launched rockets and drones towards Israel early Monday to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks.
Israel began bombarding Beirut's southern suburbs and dozens of villages in south Lebanon, vowing to make the group pay a "heavy price." The strikes killed at least 52 people and wounded at least 154, according to the Lebanese government.
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In southern Lebanon, 'the war goes on and residents cannot return home'
