Lebanon has been thrust back into the centre of a widening Middle East conflict after Israeli forces carried out extensive air and naval strikes across Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon.

The attacks followed rocket and drone fire launched by Hezbollah towards northern Israel, an escalation linked to the broader confrontation between Israel and Iran.

Israeli officials said the strikes targeted Hezbollah command centres, weapons depots and senior operatives, warning the group would face severe consequences for opening a new front.

Lebanon’s disaster management authorities reported dozens of deaths, while thick smoke rose over densely populated neighbourhoods, forcing residents to flee amid fears of further bombardment.

In a rare and forceful response, Lebanon’s government condemned Hezbollah’s actions and announced measures to ban the group’s military activities, stressing that decisions of war and peace rest solely with the state.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned against dragging Lebanon into a regional war, while President Joseph Aoun cautioned that the country must not become a battlefield for conflicts beyond its control.