Roads in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon were gridlocked early Monday as families fled north amid renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Footage from the scene shows heavy traffic crawling along major routes while missiles — believed to have been launched from Lebanon — streaked across the night sky.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued urgent evacuation warnings for approximately 55 villages and towns in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) subsequently carried out airstrikes across multiple areas, including Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, the Bekaa Valley, and southern regions near Tyre.
Israel said the strikes followed a wave of drones and rockets launched by Hezbollah targeting the Mishmar HaCarmel missile defense site south of Haifa. The IDF reported intercepting at least one projectile, while others landed in open areas. No casualties have been confirmed.
“Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight and is fully responsible for any escalation,” said IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, adding that Israeli forces had prepared for such a scenario under “Operation Roaring Lion.”
Hezbollah said the assault was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, describing the attack as an act carried out “in defence of Lebanon and its people.”
Iranian state television had earlier confirmed that Khamenei was killed in strikes on Saturday. The Supreme Leader, who had ruled since 1989, held ultimate authority over Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions.
Iranian officials warned that his death would mark a turning point in the region, with the Revolutionary Guard vowing retaliation and declaring that “this great crime will not go unpunished.”