War Spills Over into Lebanon: Israeli Airstrikes on Beirut Following Hezbollah Shelling

The second day of the military operation against Iran brought a dramatic expansion of hostilities onto Lebanese territory. Hezbollah officially joined the fight, arguing that its attack was a response to the death of Iran's supreme leader. Militants fired dozens of rockets towards Israel, some of which were intercepted by air defense systems, although one target is reported to have been hit. In retaliation, Israeli aircraft carried out a series of strikes on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, targeting the group's command infrastructure and weapons depots. Witnesses report powerful explosions in the city's southern districts, triggering a mass exodus of civilians from the bombed areas. The situation on the Iranian front itself remains critical, especially after reports of a drone attack on a US naval base. Although Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to maintain the strategic initiative, there are reports of casualties among American soldiers, indirectly acknowledged by President Donald Trump, who warned that the conflict could last many weeks. At the same time, disturbing information is coming from Iranian territory about a strike on a school building, which may have killed over 100 people. This information has not yet been independently verified by coalition forces, but it is already sparking a wave of condemnation in Arab media and Iran's allied states. Iran's security chief made a desperate attempt to resume talks with the US to stop further destruction of the country, but chances for de-escalation currently seem minimal. Israeli-Lebanese relations are marked by decades of conflict, the most serious of which was the 2006 war, which led to the destruction of a significant part of Lebanon's infrastructure and solidified Hezbollah's position as the main force of resistance against Israel. The economic effects of the fighting are being felt almost immediately worldwide. The Japanese Nikkei index recorded a drastic drop of over 1500 points, a result of mass stock sell-offs by investors fearing a blockade of transport routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices are rising sharply, and analysts warn of a long-term paralysis of global supply chains. Chinese experts assess that the strikes on Iran have opened a "Pandora's box," the closing of which could take years and permanently change the balance of power in Eurasia. Despite the military superiority of the US and Israel, the resilience of the Iranian regime is assessed by diplomats as high, suggesting that the confrontation will not lead to a rapid collapse of the theocratic authorities in Tehran, but rather to a bloody war of attrition. „Iran struck our base. This could be a long fight, prepare for weeks of struggle.” — US President Donald Trump The internal situation in Israel remains tense, as the opening of the northern front forces the army to disperse its air defense resources. Systems like the Iron Dome are operating at maximum capacity, trying to protect Galilean settlements from constant shelling from Lebanon. International diplomacy, with the exception of firm declarations of support for Israel from selected capitals, seems paralyzed by the pace of events. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire, but neither side shows any willingness to back down, and Hezbollah has warned that any further bomb falling on Beirut will be met with an adequate response targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.