US Backed Strikes On Beirut's Dahiyeh If Hezbollah Attacks Continue, Claims Israel

Last Updated:June 02, 2026, 19:39 IST

Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz says US backs a doctrine allowing strikes on Beirut's Dahiyeh if Hezbollah attacks northern Israel.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said the United States had backed Israel’s position that it could strike Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburb if Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked northern Israeli communities.

Speaking at a conference, Katz said Israel had established a new security doctrine under which attacks on Israeli towns would trigger retaliatory strikes on Dahiyeh, a stronghold of Hezbollah group.

“The Prime Minister and I led a coordinated move together with the IDF to establish a new equation… If Israeli towns continue to be attacked, we will evacuate and strike the Shiite Dahiyeh quarter in Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold," Katz said, according to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry.

Katz Claims US Backing For Dahiyeh Strikes

He further claimed Washington had endorsed the policy and communicated it to Lebanese authorities and other relevant parties.

“The United States endorsed this principle and conveyed it to the Lebanese government and all relevant actors… either the fire on Israeli communities stops, or — if fire continues — we will strike in Dahiyeh. This equation will be upheld," Katz said.

Trump Urged Netanyahu To Avoid Beirut Attack

The remarks came amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah despite diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider escalation. On Monday, US President Donald Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Beirut, seeking to reduce tensions in the three-month-old conflict.

Following Trump’s intervention, the Lebanese government said Israel would refrain from carrying out threatened strikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, while Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israel.

However, Israeli military operations continued in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with airstrikes and artillery fire reported in several areas. Katz reiterated that Israel’s response would depend on whether attacks on northern Israeli communities cease in the coming days.

“The test of this policy for protecting our communities will be simple and will become clear in the coming days: either the attacks on Israeli communities stop, or if attacks continue and we strike Dahiyah in Beirut, this equation will be realized," he said.

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