Israel Strikes Beirut as Iran Launches New Missile Attacks on Israel Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict

Israel strikes Beirut on Thursday, targeting positions linked to the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. The attacks came as Iran launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel, increasing tensions across the Middle East.

Israeli military officials said several command centres used by Hezbollah were hit in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Earlier, residents in the area were warned to leave before the strikes began.

Lebanon’s state media reported multiple explosions early Thursday. Smoke was seen rising from areas in south Beirut where Hezbollah has strong influence.

Hamas Official Reportedly Killed in Drone Strike

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone attack hit an apartment in the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli.

The strike reportedly killed senior Hamas official Wassim Atallah al-Ali and his wife. This is the first reported targeted killing of a Hamas member since the latest regional war began last Saturday.

Authorities also reported a separate drone strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon that killed three people. Another air strike damaged a house in the Tyre district. Israel has not officially confirmed these incidents.

Hezbollah Vows to Continue Fighting

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem addressed supporters in his first speech since the latest escalation.

He said the group would continue to confront what he described as aggression and would not surrender. He added that Hezbollah sees the conflict as a battle for survival.

Lebanese officials said that since Monday at least 72 people have been killed, 437 injured, and more than 83,000 residents forced to leave their homes.

Iran Launches Missiles Toward Israel

While Israel strikes Beirut, Iran launched another wave of missiles toward Israel early Thursday.

Sirens sounded across several Israeli cities, sending millions of people into bomb shelters. Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem after missile alerts.

Israeli emergency services said there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Iranian media also reported explosions in Tehran and said the country had activated air defence systems.

US Senate Vote Allows Air Campaign to Continue

In Washington, US senators rejected a motion that sought to stop the air campaign and require congressional approval for military action.

The Senate voted 53-47 against the proposal. Most Republicans opposed the measure, while most Democrats supported it.

This decision leaves President Donald Trump with broad authority to continue directing military operations.

Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the United States and Israel had achieved what it called historic gains in the conflict.

Conflict Disrupts Travel and Shipping

The expanding war is affecting transportation across the Middle East.

Commercial flights remain limited across much of the region. Major aviation hubs such as Dubai International Airport have been affected.

Governments have begun repatriation flights to bring home citizens stranded in the region.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have slowed global shipping. Around 200 vessels were reported waiting offshore as oil and gas shipments faced delays.

Oil prices rose on Thursday as the conflict threatened energy supplies.

Wider Regional Impact

Military incidents linked to the conflict have also occurred outside the immediate war zone.

Reports said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, killing dozens of people. In another incident, NATO air defences intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkey.

Despite the growing tensions, officials said there was no sign the incident would trigger NATO’s collective defence clause.

Financial markets showed slight recovery on Thursday after several days of losses. Some traders said optimism increased after reports that Iranian intelligence may have explored possible ways to end the conflict.

Iranian authorities rejected those reports and called them misinformation during wartime.