BEIRUT / WASHINGTON (Web Desk) – A deadly Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh has escalated regional tensions, even as US President Donald Trump claimed that a broader peace agreement with Iran is “very close” and urged all sides to step back from further escalation.
At least three people were killed and 15 injured in the Israeli strike on the Ghobeiry area, according to Lebanon’s civil defence agency, which said rescue teams recovered bodies from the rubble while search and clearance operations continued. Reports indicated that two Israeli warplanes fired four guided missiles at the Lebanese capital.
Following the attack, the Israeli military said it is preparing for a possible retaliatory response “in the coming hours,” while the Home Front Command raised its alert level to the highest category amid fears of incoming fire.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said the strike “should not have happened,” particularly at a time when diplomatic progress with Iran is reportedly close. While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself, he described the response as disproportionate and urged all parties, including Hezbollah, to halt attacks and avoid further escalation.
“We are very close to a deal that will bring peace to the region, including Lebanon,” Trump wrote, warning that continued violence could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Amid the escalation, Lebanon also lodged a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing Israel of using herbicide near its southern border earlier this year. Beirut said laboratory tests showed unusually high concentrations of chemicals in soil samples from border villages, calling it a violation of environmental norms.
The incident has drawn sharp regional reactions. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of failing to uphold its commitments and dismissed US-Israel coordination as outdated political theatre. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also stressed that regional security cannot be achieved without Iran’s inclusion, calling for a collective security framework based on cooperation among all regional states.
As diplomatic rhetoric intensifies alongside military escalation, the Beirut strike has deepened fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East, even as claims of an emerging peace deal between Washington and Tehran continue to circulate.