Middle East conflict: why is Israel attacking Lebanon? (opens in new tab)

<p>Israel has deployed soldiers on the ground in southern Lebanon and is carrying out heavy airstrikes in the country as conflict in the Middle East continues to spread. It comes after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Beirut-based journalist Will Christou.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/video/2026/mar/03/middle-east-confl...