Israel Bombs South Lebanon After Hezbollah Attacks; Shiite Communities Turn Against Hezbollah

Hezbollah’s recent strikes against Israel were described by the group as meant to honour Iran’s supreme leader and to avenge an Iranian-linked killing.

“‘Self-destructive, suicidal’: In Lebanon, anger rises against Hezbollah amid Israeli strikes The militant group Hezbollah has lost political backers in Lebanon after strikes it launched this week against Israel to honour Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei provoked a robust military response”

France 24

Those strikes have triggered a large Israeli military response that is drawing Lebanon into a wider regional confrontation.

France 24

Intense Israeli bombardment, including heavy strikes on the densely packed Dahiyeh suburb of southern Beirut, has caused widespread destruction and driven many residents to flee.

Lebanese authorities reported at least 217 dead and 798 wounded since Monday, and a senior UN official said about 100,000 people have been displaced.

Hezbollah framed its cross-border operations as retaliation and as an honour to Iran's leadership.

The group has publicly claimed strikes on multiple Israeli targets, including border positions, the occupied Golan Heights and a navy base near Haifa.

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Hezbollah positioned these actions as part of a response to an Iranian-linked killing, and this framing has been central to how the group justifies the escalation.

The Israeli military response has focused on densely populated civilian areas, with the Dahiyeh suburb singled out for heavy strikes that have produced significant displacement and destruction.

“‘Self-destructive, suicidal’: In Lebanon, anger rises against Hezbollah amid Israeli strikes The militant group Hezbollah has lost political backers in Lebanon after strikes it launched this week against Israel to honour Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei provoked a robust military response”

France 24

The piece notes widespread damage and flight from the area, and cites UN figures estimating roughly 100,000 people uprooted by the fighting, underscoring the humanitarian toll inside Lebanon.

The escalation has eroded Hezbollah’s political support within Lebanon.

It has strained Lebanon’s government, which convened an emergency cabinet meeting and decided to ban Hezbollah’s military activities.

France 24

Reporting says Hezbollah has lost backing in parts of the country, including southern Shiite communities now on the frontlines, reflecting a shift in internal public and political dynamics amid the bombing and casualties.

Analysts warn that tit-for-tat exchanges have widened the conflict’s scope, drawing Lebanon deeper into a broader Israel–Iran confrontation that involves the US and regional allies.

“‘Self-destructive, suicidal’: In Lebanon, anger rises against Hezbollah amid Israeli strikes The militant group Hezbollah has lost political backers in Lebanon after strikes it launched this week against Israel to honour Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei provoked a robust military response”

France 24

The combination of cross-border strikes, Israeli bombardment of Lebanese suburbs and mounting casualties has raised concerns about further regional escalation and the humanitarian consequences for civilians in Lebanon.

France 24