Beirut: Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed at least 31 people and injured 149 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Monday, following a rocket attack by Hezbollah on Israel.

The escalation marks a further expansion of the ongoing Middle East conflict, which intensified after the United States and Israel launched a coordinated airstrike campaign targeting Iran.

Casualties reported across Southern Lebanon

According to the Health Ministry, nearly two-thirds of the fatalities occurred in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes were concentrated. The air raids followed Hezbollah’s claim of responsibility for an attack on northern Israel, prompting swift retaliation by Israeli forces.

The cross-border violence has heightened fears of a broader regional war, with Lebanon increasingly drawn into the confrontation between Israel and Iran-backed groups.

US issues urgent security alert in Kuwait

Amid the widening conflict, the United States issued an urgent security warning to American citizens in Kuwait, where reports indicated ongoing hostilities.

In a brief advisory, US authorities urged Americans to “take cover and remain indoors” and instructed them not to approach the US Embassy. No further details were immediately provided.

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Middle East war expands

The latest Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon underscore the rapid expansion of hostilities across the Middle East, with multiple fronts now active following the US–Israel strikes on Iran.

With rising casualties, displacement and heightened security alerts across the Gulf region, tensions continue to mount as the conflict shows no immediate signs of de-escalation.

AP