Israel Hits Lebanon as New Front Opens in Widening Regional War

The wreckage after an Israeli air strike in the southern Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, on March 2.

Source: AFP/Getty Images

Israel bombed Beirut and told residents in dozens of southern Lebanese villages to leave after the militant Hezbollah group fired rockets and drones into the Jewish state, opening a new front in a widening regional war.

More than 30 people were killed in the Israeli air strikes on Monday, Lebanese authorities said. The Western-backed government in Beirut condemned the attack while warning Lebanese not to be drawn into further fighting, effectively an appeal to Hezbollah not to escalate.