Beirut, 13 March (H.S.): The Middle East remains engulfed in conflict as the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, launched on February 28, draws in new fronts, with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon intensifying clashes that pit Israel against dual threats from Tehran and the militant group.

Israel targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs with rockets, missiles, and drones in early morning strikes, setting fires across multiple locations and vowing to eradicate the group with full force.

In retaliation, Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, escalating the tit-for-tat violence that has displaced over 800,000 people in Lebanon and killed nearly 700 since March 2.

Lebanese officials reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a university in southern Beirut, killing two academics: the director of the sciences faculty, Hussein Bazzi, and professor Mortada Srour.

The Israeli military framed the assaults as precise operations against Hezbollah infrastructure, amid ongoing bombardments in densely populated areas that have toppled buildings and drawn UN alarms over the humanitarian crisis.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar