Hezbollah-Israel Conflict Escalates with Strikes in Beirut and Tehran

The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is intensifying, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducting strikes in Beirut, Lebanon, and Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. These actions follow a series of retaliatory attacks sparked by the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint Israeli-US assault on Iran over the weekend.

IDF Strikes in Beirut

The IDF confirmed that an overnight strike in Beirut killed Hussein Makled, identified as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters. According to the IDF, Makled was responsible for gathering intelligence on IDF troops and the State of Israel, and for planning terror attacks [Source: The Times of Israel].

In response to the IDF strikes, the Lebanese government announced it would ban Hezbollah’s military activities, a decision condemned by a top Hezbollah official [Source: The Times of Israel]. A senior commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, Adham al-Othman, 41, was also killed in a separate overnight strike in southern Beirut [Source: The Times of Israel].

Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel, which included rockets and drones, were presented as retaliation for the death of Khamenei [Source: The Guardian]. These attacks prompted waves of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut [Source: The Guardian].

Strikes in Tehran

Iran’s state TV, IRIB, reported explosions near its headquarters in Tehran on Tuesday. The IDF stated it attacked the area, claiming the center was used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to promote military activities and disseminate anti-Israel propaganda [Source: The Times of Israel]. Despite the attacks, IRIB continued to broadcast [Source: The Times of Israel].

Escalation of Regional Conflict

The recent strikes mark a significant escalation in the regional conflict, drawing Lebanon into the US-Israeli war with Iran [Source: The Guardian]. Iran has also reportedly attacked Gulf Arab states, with a drone striking an Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, and a UK military base in Cyprus [Source: The Guardian].

Key Takeaways

• The IDF killed Hussein Makled, head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, in Beirut.
• Lebanon has announced a ban on Hezbollah’s military activities.
• The IDF has conducted strikes in Tehran targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
• The conflict is expanding, with attacks reported in multiple countries across the Middle East.