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The war in Lebanon, explained

The 麻豆社鈥檚 correspondent in Beirut on how we got here and what鈥檚 next.

Shortly after the US-Israeli war with Iran began, a second war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities say that more than 900 people, including at least 111 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since 2 March. More than a million others have been forced to leave their homes.

On Wednesday, Israel widened its air strikes from the southern suburbs of Beirut into the city centre. And there are fears that what Israel has called a 鈥渓imited鈥 ground operation could lead to an occupation of the south. Israel says it is targeting not only Hezbollah fighters and leaders, but also businesses it claims are linked to the group and help finance its military operations.

From his post in Beirut, 麻豆社 Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega explains the long history of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and we ask what could come next.

Producers: Chris Benderev and Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo Credit: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 March, 2026. Creit: Claudia Greco/Reuters

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Fri 20 Mar 2026 01:32GMT

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