STORY: The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran expanded on Monday (March 2) with Israel attacking Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah.

Reuters video overlooking the southern suburbs of Beirut's skyline from Baabda showed back-to-back explosions shaking the area, followed by thick black smoke.

A new front in the conflict opened on Monday when Hezbollah, one of Tehran's principal allies in the Middle East, launched missiles and drones towards Israel.

Israel responded with sweeping airstrikes, which it said targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut and struck senior militants. Lebanese state news agency NNA said an initial tally showed 31 people had been killed and 149 injured.

Israel declared Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem a "target for elimination." Officials said they were not for now considering a ground invasion of Lebanon, whose government on Monday banned military activities by Hezbollah.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF BEIRUT SHOWING HEAVY SMOKE BILLOWING AFTER BACK-TO-BACK EXPLOSIONS

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REFILING EDIT TO REMOVE JUMP CUT ON SHOT 6, NO OTHER CHANGES MADE TO THE SCRIPT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BAABDA, BEIRUT (MARCH 2, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. EXPLOSION IN THE BACKGROUND, SMOKE RISING FROM SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF BEIRUT SEEN FROM BAABDA AT 1352GMT

2. HEAVY SMOKE BILLOWING FROM SOUTHERN BEIRUT, SECOND EXPLOSION HITTING THE AREA AT 1354GMT

3. HEAVY SOME BILLOWING AFTER SECOND EXPLOSION

4. HEAVY SMOKE BILLOWING AFTER FIRST EXPLOSION, MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND

5. VARIOUS OF SMOKE BILLOWING

6. THIRD EXPLOSION HITTING AREA, SMOKE BILLOWING AT 1421GMT

7. VARIOUS OF SMOKE BILLOWING