Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut on Friday, targeting what it described as militant infrastructure in the Lebanese capital, as regional tensions escalated with the U.S. warning that Iran may target universities in Lebanon. The strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas known to be strongholds of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Residents in seven neighborhoods were warned to evacuate ahead of the attacks. Loud explosions were heard across the city around sunset, coinciding with Good Friday observances by Lebanon's Muslim and Christian communities. Lebanese media confirmed the strikes occurred in the southern suburbs, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Israel's military stated it was "striking terror infrastructure in Beirut" but did not offer further details.
The attack is part of a broader Israeli campaign in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have invaded and pledged to destroy all villages up to the Litani River to establish a so-called security zone. Over a million people have fled their homes across Lebanon due to the conflict, including tens of thousands in the south who remain despite the advancing operations. About 9,000 Lebanese Christians in border towns have refused to leave, citing determination to stay on their land. The conflict began after Hezbollah fired into Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Since then, Iran has launched attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, and has threatened retaliation against U.S. universities in the region after its own universities were struck. In response, the American University of Beirut shifted to online classes earlier in the week. The U.S. embassy in Beirut reiterated its warning that "Iran and its aligned terrorist militias may intend to target universities in Lebanon" and urged American citizens to leave the country.
More than 1,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, and approximately 20 percent of Lebanon's population has been displaced. Israel has issued evacuation orders covering about 15 percent of Lebanese territory. On Friday, three UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured, two seriously, in an explosion at a UN position near the border. The source of the blast remains unknown. Three other UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed earlier in the week.
When Israel says it is striking "terror infrastructure" in Beirut without providing evidence, it signals a strategy of opacity in densely populated areas where civilian presence is high. The mass displacement of over a million people and repeated strikes on Hezbollah-held zones suggest a campaign that blurs military and civilian lines, increasing humanitarian risk. The U.S. warning about Iranian threats to universities adds a new dimension — not just of warfare, but of psychological pressure on institutions in fragile states. This conflict is no longer just about borders; it's about the erasure of normal life in Lebanon.
