Israel launches Beirut air strikes, says spotted Iran-backed drone sites

Israeli air strikes rocked Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday after its military accused Hezbollah of manufacturing attack drones there with Iranian assistance.

Lebanese television news channels showed explosions and plumes of smoke in the area, a center of support for the Iran-backed armed group.

"Despite the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, the IDF has identified that the Hezbollah aerial unit is operating to produce thousands of UAVs, with the direction and funding of Iranian terrorists," Israel's military said on X, referring to acronyms for itself and drones.