After Hezbollah enters war by attacking northern Israel, IDF launches massive strikes in Lebanon that are set to continue for 'days'

After almost two full days of staying on the sidelines, the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon joined its Iranian patron in the war against Israel early on Monday morning, firing rockets and drones at northern Israel.

Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes in several locations as the Israel Defense Forces announced it was prepared for this scenario and would be launching intense operations, which it says will continue for the coming days.

Asked about a potential ground invasion on Monday, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin replied “all options are on the table.”

Hezbollah had initially only condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran without committing to joining the war. Shortly after midnight, the group launched several rockets and drones toward northern Israel in its first large-scale attacks since the ceasefire was signed at the end of 2024.

A good view of the Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Beirut's Dahieh a few hours ago.

The Israeli military said it targeted a senior Hezbollah figure in the attacks. pic.twitter.com/1fp81zk4fr

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) March 2, 2026

The IDF said it intercepted one of the rockets while others fell in open areas. Two suspected drones were also shot down before residents of central Israel reported hearing loud explosions. The IDF later said explained that it was caused by rockets that fell into the Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli coast.

Hezbollah took responsibility for the attacks in an official statement, explaining that they were launched “in retaliation for the pure blood of the Guardian of the Muslims,” referring to Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and said his blood “was unjustly and treacherously shed by the criminal Zionist enemy.”

“The terrorist organization Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for the fire toward Israel, and Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, who decided on the launch under Iranian pressure – is from now on a marked target for elimination,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Monday.

צה"ל פתח בגל תקיפות נוסף בלבנון

צה״ל החל כעת בתקיפת מטרות נוספות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בלבנון.

בין המטרות שהותקפו, מחסני אמצעי לחימה ותשתיות נוספות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במספר מרחבים בלבנון pic.twitter.com/1a853nGUnk

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 2, 2026

“Whoever follows in the path of Khamenei will soon find himself alongside him in the depths of hell, together with all those eliminated from the axis of evil.”

The IDF quickly launched a series of strikes across several areas during the night, including Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood, the terror group’s stronghold. Reports, unconfirmed at the time of publication, suggested that Muhammad Raad, Hezbollah’s Parliamentary Bloc leader, was among several officials killed.

Poster of Islamist Iran regime founder Khomeini on Beirut’s airport road, seen amid debris after Hezbollah attacked Israel and provoked reprisals. Residents rushed to their cars to flee. It is now 3:36 a.m. Beirut time.@AOC @SenSanders @ChrisMurphyCT @SenRubenGallego… pic.twitter.com/7SVDZEaSFj

— Hussain Abdul-Hussain (@hahussain) March 2, 2026

“We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah. We are not only operating defensively – we are now going on the offensive as well,” stressed IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

“We must prepare for many prolonged days of combat ahead. This requires strong defensive readiness and sustained offensive readiness, operating in continuous waves while constantly utilizing opportunities,” he added.

IDF Northern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo vowed to the residents of northern Israel, “We will continue to protect you. We have significantly reinforced force deployment along the border and are prepared to receive additional troops. We will not evacuate you.”

Milo stressed that the IDF launched an operation planned in advance, with “a first broad wave of strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon, targeting senior operatives, headquarters, and terrorist infrastructure. We are also acting to evacuate civilians in southern Lebanon ahead of further strikes. The strikes continue – their intensity will increase.”

#عاجل ‼️
نداء #عاجل إلى سكان #لبنان في القرى:

صريفا، معروب، سلعا (صور)، دبعال، بافليه، باريش، ارزون، قلويه، الشهابية (طير زبنا)، دردغيا، بستيات، عرب صاليم، حوش الرافقة، يحمر (البقاع الغربي)، ميدون، دلافي، عين قانا، كنيسة، المنصوري (صور)، مجدل زون، مزرعة بيوت السياد، جبال… pic.twitter.com/6FJd7IuCKB

— Lieutenant Colonel Ella Waweya | إيلا واوية (@CaptainElla1) March 2, 2026

Overnight, the IDF’s new Arabic spokeswoman, Lt.-Col. Ella Waweya, published evacuation orders for over 50 southern Lebanese villages, while media reports aired footage showing a mass exodus from Dahiyeh in preparation for more Israeli strikes.

“We will not return to the rules of engagement that existed before October 7. We will protect the residents of the north and all citizens of the State of Israel with full force,” Katz stated.

Lebanese media reported that dozens of explosions shook the capital city of Beirut, while other Israeli airstrikes were reported from the areas of Tyre, Qana, Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun, among others.

🚨 Shortly after 8 a.m., Israeli strikes hit Bazourieh, Tayr Filsey, Batoulieh, Tayr Debba, Halloussiyeh, Majadel, Mahrouna, Qana and Hosh, all in the Sour district, our correspondent in the South reported. pic.twitter.com/5k95gikk1m

— L'Orient Today (@lorienttoday) March 2, 2026

The Lebanese government convened an emergency meeting on Monday morning, as the country’s leadership criticized Hezbollah for dragging it into a war.

President Joseph Aoun stated, “The launching of rockets from Lebanese territory this morning targets all the efforts and endeavors exerted by the Lebanese state to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region.”

“While we condemn the Israeli aggressions on Lebanese territory, we warn that persisting in using Lebanon once again as a platform for proxy wars in which we have no involvement will expose our country to risks once more, the responsibility for which falls on the parties that ignored the repeated calls to preserve security and stability in the country.”

Aoun's government has begun a process aimed at disarming Hezbollah; however, Israel has noted that the terror group’s rearmament efforts have outpaced the ostensible effort to disarm it.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also criticized Hezbollah without explicitly naming the group, saying that “regardless of the party standing behind it, the launching of rockets from southern Lebanon is an irresponsible and suspicious act that endangers Lebanon's security and safety and provides Israel with pretexts to continue its attacks on it.”

Salam vowed he would not “allow the country to be dragged into new adventures” and that the government will “take all necessary measures to stop the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese.” He did not specify whether that included ordering the Lebanese military to take active measures against Hezbollah, a move many fear could trigger a new civil war.