Israel Claims US-Backed Strikes Possible on Beirut’s Dahiyeh if Hezbollah Attacks Continue

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said the United States has backed Israel’s position.

That it may strike Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburb if Iran-backed Hezbollah continues attacks on northern Israeli communities. Speaking at a conference, Katz said Israel has adopted a new security doctrine under which attacks on Israeli towns would trigger retaliatory strikes on Dahiyeh, a key Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut.

“The Prime Minister and I led a coordinated move with the IDF to establish a new equation,” Katz said in a statement from the Defence Ministry. “If Israeli towns continue to be attacked, we will evacuate and strike the Shiite Dahiyeh quarter in Beirut.”

Katz claims US support for policy

Katz further claimed that Washington had endorsed the approach and conveyed it to Lebanese authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

“The United States endorsed this principle and communicated it to the Lebanese government and all relevant actors,” he said. “Either the fire on Israeli communities stops, or we will strike in Dahiyeh. This equation will be upheld.”

Regional tensions remain high

The remarks come amid continued hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict. On Monday, US President Donald Trump reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid striking Beirut in an effort to de-escalate tensions.

Following the intervention, Lebanese officials indicated that Israel would hold off on threatened strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, while Hezbollah would reduce attacks on northern Israel. However, Israeli military operations reportedly continued in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with airstrikes and artillery fire in several areas.

Katz reiterated that Israel’s response would depend on whether attacks on northern Israeli communities cease in the coming days. “The test of this policy will be clear in the coming days: either the attacks stop, or if they continue and we strike Dahiyeh in Beirut, this equation will be realized,” he said.