Israeli jets roared over Beirut’s southern suburbs Sunday morning, unleashing over 100 precision airstrikes that turned Hezbollah’s Dahieh stronghold into a smoking battlefield. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed devastating hits on the elite Radwan Force’s command center and training compound—facilities Hezbollah allegedly used to plot attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. In a separate Beqaa Valley strike, IDF eliminated Mustafa Ahmed al-Zein, a senior operative with deep Iranian Quds Force connections who had based himself in Tehran to orchestrate anti-Israel operations.
What Made Beirut’s Dahieh the Primary Target?
The IDF zeroed in on Dahieh’s Radwan Force headquarters, describing it as a nerve center for imminent terror plots against Israel. Warplanes hammered the command and training compound alongside multiple weapons depots scattered through Hezbollah’s Beirut power base. Military officials stated these sites stored rockets, explosives, and command infrastructure essential for attacks on Israeli population centers. Secondary strikes obliterated dozens of additional military facilities throughout the heavily Shia suburb.
The IDF says it struck Hezbollah weapons depots and dozens of military sites, including a Radwan Force command and training compound in Beirut’s Dahieh used to plan attacks on Israeli forces and civilians.
In the Beqaa region, the IDF also killed Hezbollah operative Mustafa… pic.twitter.com/efJsNLlOWt
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 8, 2026
Who Was Mustafa Ahmed al-Zein and Why Target Him?
In Lebanon’s eastern Beqaa Valley, an airstrike killed Mustafa Ahmed al-Zein, whom the IDF identified as a high-ranking Hezbollah figure maintaining close operational ties with Iran’s IRGC Quds Force. Israeli intelligence tracked al-Zein living in Iran in recent years, directing terror activities against the Jewish state from Tehran safe houses. The IDF portrayed his elimination as severing a critical Iran-Hezbollah command link fueling cross-border attacks.
How Did This Massive Strike Wave Unfold?
Sunday’s operation marked another wave in Israel’s broad Lebanon offensive launched March 2 after Hezbollah began firing projectiles into northern Israel. The IDF issued evacuation orders for over 50 southern and eastern Lebanese villages prior to the airstrikes, warning civilians to flee Hezbollah-dominated areas. From morning until noon, fighter jets carried out several hit packages, methodically destroying the group’s military infrastructure throughout Beirut and beyond.
What Sparked Lebanon’s Latest Escalation?
Hezbollah intensified cross-border attacks following the March 2 death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike, prompting Israel’s overwhelming response. The IDF’s campaign has systematically targeted Hezbollah leadership, weapons caches, and command nodes since the trigger event. The operation’s most intense day to yet, Sunday’s 100+ strikes demonstrate Israel’s resolve to eliminate the Iran-backed group’s potential to threaten its northern border.
FAQs
Q: What specific Hezbollah sites got hit in Dahieh?
A: Radwan Force command center, training compound, multiple weapons depots, dozens of military facilities.
Q: Who did IDF kill in the Beqaa Valley?
A: Mustafa Ahmed al-Zein is a top Hezbollah member who operates out of Tehran and has connections to the Iran Quds Force.
Q: When did Hezbollah-Israel escalation begin?
A: March 2, 2026 after Khamenei death; IDF launched broad Lebanon offensive immediately after.
Q: How many Lebanese villages under evacuation?
A: Over 50 in southern/eastern Lebanon received IDF warnings before Sunday’s major strikes.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
