The conflict between Israel and Iran has spilled into Lebanon, after Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel and drew a swift Israeli response in what marks a significant expansion of the regional war. The Iran-allied Lebanese armed group said its strikes were carried out in retaliation for Israel’s killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and for what it called “repeated Israeli aggressions.” It marks the first time in more than a year the Lebanese militant group had claimed a strike against Israel — a move that Lebanese government officials had pleaded with Hezbollah not to make, fearing another devastating war on Lebanese soil. Israel responded with strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other targets across southern Lebanon, saying it was hitting sites connected to the Iran-backed militant group. Lebanese health officials said the attacks killed at least 31 people and wounded 149 more. The Lebanese escalation came as the broader Israel-Iran campaign continued to intensify. A source briefed on Israeli operations described the current strikes against Iran as significantly more extensive than the 12-day conflict between the two countries last June. Iran’s Red Crescent Society said at…
