The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched strikes on a Hezbollah command center in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut on Sunday, following a series of drone incursions into Israeli airspace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, stating that Israel will not tolerate fire directed at its territory. The strikes coincide with reports from U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that a peace deal between the United States and Iran is scheduled for an electronic signing within the next 24 hours.
Why the strikes in Dahiyeh occurred
The military action in Beirut serves as a direct response to Hezbollah drone activity that triggered sirens across northern Israel early Sunday. According to an official statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, the IDF targeted a specific command center used by Hezbollah to advance attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers operating in southern Lebanon. This military response aligns with calls from senior cabinet members to intensify operations against the group. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the government to implement the “Dahiyeh doctrine” with force, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that for every drone violation, the district must “tremble.”
The diplomatic context of the U.S.-Iran deal
While military tensions persist on the ground, high-level diplomatic efforts are nearing a conclusion. President Trump announced on Truth Social that a deal with Iran is set to be signed on Sunday, asserting that the agreement will result in the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a final text has been reached, with preparations underway for an electronic signing. This development contrasts with the rhetoric of Ebrahim Rezaei, a military advisor to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Rezaei wrote on X that the only path toward an agreement requires “disciplining the Zionist regime,” warning that if the “rabid dog” is not controlled, it could threaten the durability of the pending deal.
What may happen next
The intersection of a looming U.S.-Iran agreement and ongoing regional hostilities creates a volatile environment. The Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters previously warned that any continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon could lead to “much more severe and crushing measures.” Given these threats, a possible next step involves an escalation of rhetoric or direct action from regional proxies, depending on the implementation of the peace deal. Analysts may observe whether the signing of the agreement serves to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz or if the ongoing conflict in Lebanon undermines the framework established between the United States and Iran.
