Israel strikes Lebanon as Iran launches fresh missile barrage

TEHRAN: (Web Desk) – Israel carried out fresh air strikes in Lebanon early Thursday while intercepting missiles launched from Iran, as the widening conflict involving the United States and Israel continued to destabilize parts of the Middle East, including Iraq.

A pre-dawn airstrike targeted a Hezbollah-controlled suburb of Beirut. The Iran-backed group has vowed retaliation after the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the opening phase of the conflict last Saturday.

Israeli authorities said residents in the targeted areas had been warned to evacuate before the strikes. At the same time, the Israeli military reported that it was intercepting another wave of missiles fired from Iran despite earlier claims by the United States that Tehran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened.

According to the Israeli army, Iran launched multiple missile barrages toward Israel early Thursday, triggering air-raid sirens in several locations. Explosions were heard in Jerusalem, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom said it had not received any reports of injuries from the early-morning missile attacks, and residents were later allowed to leave bomb shelters.

The Israeli military had earlier announced that some wartime restrictions would be eased from midday Thursday as missile attacks from Iran appeared to be declining.

Iran, however, has warned it will retaliate strongly for the strikes against it. The country’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they had shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key passage through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil is transported.

Energy analytics firm Kpler reported that oil tanker traffic through the strait had dropped by nearly 90 percent. Meanwhile, Britain’s maritime agency reported a major explosion near Kuwait City that caused an oil spill in Gulf waters.

87 Perish in Maritime Strike; Iran Warns of Targeting Israeli Interests Abroad

In neighboring Iraq, a nationwide power outage was reported, although officials said it was caused by a sudden drop in gas supplies to a major power plant and not directly linked to the conflict.

Iran also carried out strikes in northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, reportedly killing a member of an exiled Iranian Kurdish group. Iranian officials warned separatist organizations against attempting to exploit the current conflict.

In another development, the United States said one of its submarines sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strike as decisive, saying the vessel had assumed it was safe in international waters.

Sri Lankan authorities said at least 87 bodies had been recovered following the attack, while dozens of sailors remained missing.

According to Iran’s official news agency Islamic Republic News Agency, more than 1,000 people — including military personnel and civilians — have been killed since the conflict began, though the figures could not be independently verified.

The conflict has also drawn other regional players. A missile launched from Iran was intercepted by NATO’s air defence system after heading toward Turkish airspace, prompting protests from Turkey.

Iranian attacks have also caused alarm in Gulf cities including Dubai and Riyadh. Several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, reported intercepting missiles and drones.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes have killed at least 75 people and displaced more than 83,000 since the latest escalation began. Israel has urged residents south of the Litani River to evacuate as its military prepares for further operations.

International leaders have called for restraint. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Israel against launching a ground offensive in Lebanon during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump praised the US military’s role in the conflict, claiming significant progress had been made in weakening Iran’s leadership.