Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he ordered the Israeli army to strike targets in the southern suburb of Beirut.

Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz that the decision came after continued violations by Hezbollah and its targeting of our cities and citizens.

Annahar reported and captured images showing displacement movement from the southern suburb of Beirut following Netanyahu’s order to bomb the area.

عدسة "النهار" ترصد حركة نزوح من الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت عقب أوامر نتنياهو بقصفها pic.twitter.com/7XVHu2iPkM

— Annahar النهار (@Annahar) June 1, 2026

زحمة سير في منطقة الطيونة جرّاء حركة النزوح التي تشهدها الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت عقب التهديد الإسرائيلي بقصفها (فيديو متداوَل) pic.twitter.com/lkRpmJOHQK

— Annahar النهار (@Annahar) June 1, 2026

This morning, Axios reported, citing sources, that US efforts to end the war in Lebanon have failed, at a time when Israel is expanding its ground incursion and seeking a US green light to carry out large scale strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.

Axios also quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israel has asked the Trump administration to allow it to conduct major strikes in Beirut.

Displacement movement from the southern suburb. (Annahar)

This escalation in Beirut comes after the expansion of the ground operation in southern Lebanon and the Israeli army’s control of the strategic historic Qalaat Shaqif (Beaufort Castle).

Iran continues to emphasize its support for Hezbollah and insists that any agreement to end the war with the United States must include Lebanon. In the latest remarks, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an integral part of any agreement to end the war with the United States.

He added that the lack of trust, the constantly changing US positions, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon are causing delays in the diplomatic process.