Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Monday, intensifying its campaign against Iran-backed proxy forces amid rising regional tensions and mounting international pressure on Tehran over human rights abuses.
The Israeli military said the strikes hit positions linked to Hezbollah near the coastal city of Tyre. Lebanese security sources reported at least one person killed and eight wounded. Israel has warned it is preparing for possible retaliation by Iran-aligned militias operating across the region.
The escalation comes as United Kingdom imposed sweeping new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of orchestrating violent crackdowns on mass protests. London said the confirmed death toll from unrest in Iran has exceeded 7,000, with more than 11,000 injured, while thousands of additional deaths remain under investigation. Sanctions target Iran’s interior minister, senior police commanders and military figures tied to abuses.
Meanwhile, the United States has reinforced its military presence in the Middle East, deploying the carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, additional destroyers and fighter jet squadrons. Stealth bombers are also believed to have been repositioned closer to the region as Washington weighs options against Tehran.
Despite the military buildup, Iran’s foreign minister signaled that negotiations over the country’s nuclear program could still yield a deal, even as intelligence assessments suggest the White House is considering how to respond to Iran’s actions without triggering a wider war.
Israel’s strikes mark the latest phase of a conflict that began after the October 7, 2023 attacks and later expanded into full-scale fighting with Hezbollah in 2024, underlining growing fears of a broader confrontation between Israel, Iran and their respective allies.
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