Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting sites in Tehran and Beirut as the regional conflict involving Israel, Iran, and allied armed groups continued to escalate into its seventeenth day. The overnight attacks struck military infrastructure and facilities linked to Hezbollah and Iranian operations, according to statements from Israeli officials and regional authorities.
The Israeli military said it conducted strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs overnight, targeting Hezbollah command centers and other operational locations. One of the targets included a facility believed to be storing unmanned aerial vehicles that Israeli officials said were intended for use in attacks on Israel, according to NBC News. The strikes hit areas in Beirut's Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been struck repeatedly in recent weeks.
The attacks came as Israel significantly expanded its ground and air operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli authorities also announced what they described as "limited and targeted ground operations" against Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. According to CNN, the ground operations were focused on areas believed to host Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters along the border. Lebanese state media reported multiple attacks across southern Lebanon through the night and into the morning.
Lebanon's health ministry reported a sharply rising toll from the ongoing Israeli operations. As of March 16, the death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon had reached 850 since fighting began on March 2, according to Al Jazeera. The ministry confirmed that 107 of those killed were children and 32 were healthcare workers, with 2,105 people wounded. More than 830,000 people had been displaced by the conflict — approximately 14 percent of Lebanon's population — creating what humanitarian agencies described as an acute displacement crisis.
At the same time, Israeli forces carried out fresh strikes in Iran's capital. The Israeli Air Force destroyed an aircraft belonging to former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — killed earlier in the conflict — at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, according to The Times of Israel. Israeli officials said the aircraft had been used in activities related to military procurement and coordination with allied countries across the region.
The attack on the aircraft was part of broader Israeli strikes targeting infrastructure connected to Iran's military and logistical network. Tehran has been a primary focus of the joint US-Israeli air campaign since both countries launched coordinated strikes on February 28.
Iranian authorities reported widespread destruction from the sustained air campaign. Tehran's governor stated that at least 10,000 residential homes had been damaged or completely destroyed in US and Israeli strikes, according to Al Jazeera. Iranian officials confirmed that more than 1,400 people had been killed in Iran since February 28, with the toll continuing to rise.
Iran's communications crisis added a further dimension to the situation. A nationwide internet blackout had entered its seventeenth day by March 16, surpassing 384 hours of disruption, according to Al Jazeera. The blackout had cut off millions of Iranians from access to information and outside communication since the start of the conflict.
As of March 16, hostilities were continuing across multiple fronts with no confirmed ceasefire agreement in place. The combination of airstrikes, ground operations, and missile exchanges indicated that the confrontation remained active and unresolved at the time of reporting.
Yasir Rai
