Following the Israeli airstrikes on March 2, 2026, smoke clouds rose over the southern neighborhoods of Beirut. IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP
On Monday, March 2, Lebanon’s government made a historic decision to prohibit Hezbollah’s military and security operations, leading the Iran-supported group to react strongly against the ruling. Hezbollah holds positions in both the government and parliament, and this action followed shortly after the group declared it had fired rockets and drones at Israel early that morning in retaliation for the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Lebanon’s Historic Decision
Israel commenced its bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut and numerous villages in southern Lebanon, pledging to impose a “severe cost” on the group. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 52 individuals and left at least 154 injured, as reported by the Lebanese authorities.
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The Israeli Defense Forces subsequently announced that they had "executed an extensive series of strikes against targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist group in southern Lebanon," adding that "as part of these operations, over 70 facilities for weapon storage, launch sites, and missile launchers" were targeted.
Retaliation Against Israel
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the spokesperson for Israel’s military, stated that “all options remain available” when a reporter inquired if Israel intended to escalate its operations in Lebanon to include a ground offensive. “We are conducting operations in Lebanon to eliminate a significant threat… Ultimately, all options are available. We will take action to disarm Hezbollah,” Defrin remarked during a televised briefing in response to the inquiry.
'Complete and Unconditional dismissal'
After an urgent cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated: "The Lebanese government firmly and categorically rejects any military or security operations initiated from Lebanese soil that fall outside the purview of its legitimate institutions. "This requires an immediate halt to all of Hezbollah's military and security operations, deeming them unlawful, and mandating the surrender of its arms."
Impact on Southern Beirut
In a statement, Mohammed Raad, leader of the militant group’s parliamentary faction, criticized Beirut’s “hasty decisions,” asserting that “the Lebanese populace anticipated a ruling that would denounce the [Israeli] aggression.”
Salam instructed the military and security forces to take "swift actions" to enforce the cabinet’s decision and avert "any military actions or the launch of missiles or drones from Lebanese soil." Justice Minister Adel Nassar shared in a post on X that the judicial authorities had directed "security forces to promptly apprehend those responsible for firing the rockets and their instigators."
An insider associated with the Lebanese government disclosed that two ministers from the Amal Movement, which is Hezbollah’s allied Shiite party, along with one minister from Hezbollah itself, had given their endorsement to the cabinet’s resolution.
Military Operations Under Scrutiny
Resumed attacks
The recent airstrikes caused panic among civilians, leading to congested roads in Beirut as people evacuated in vehicles and on motorbikes, taking whatever belongings they could. Many expressed their discontent. Israeli bombardments targeted multiple structures associated with Al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial entity linked to Hezbollah that has been sanctioned by the U.S., across various regions of the country, especially in the southern areas.
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They arrived following the Israeli military’s evacuation alerts for various towns in the southern and eastern regions, as well as in the southern suburbs of the capital. The armed faction of Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced on Monday that its commander in Lebanon, Adham Adnan al-Othman, had been killed in the attacks.
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The US Embassy in Lebanon has reiterated its advice for citizens to exit the country without delay. On Tuesday, the education ministry declared the suspension of schools, universities, and educational institutions due to “security conditions.” Authorities in Beirut have consistently expressed their desire to keep Lebanon out of the escalating conflict in the region, which was triggered by a significant US-Israeli offensive against Iran.
Last August, Beirut resolved to gradually disarm Hezbollah after a year-long conflict with Israel that concluded with a ceasefire in November 2024. However, this agreement failed to prevent Israel from continuing its strikes on targets it claimed were associated with Hezbollah, which it accused of attempting to rearm.
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