Exclusive: Inside Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel and Berri's 'break' with the party

Exclusive: Inside Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel and Berri's 'break' with the party Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Tue, 03/03/2026 - 12:23 The group’s preemptive strikes reportedly sought to limit casualties ahead of an expected Israeli attack A firefighter inspects destruction at a site of an Israeli air strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on 3 March 2026 (AFP) Off Hezbollah’s surprise strike on Israel on Monday did more than reignite a front that had largely lain dormant since the 2024 war. It has set off a sweeping Israeli retaliation, shaken  Lebanese public opinion, and thrust the Lebanese state into one of its most consequential confrontations with the group in years. Hezbollah launched rocket and drone strikes on northern Israel to avenge Iran 's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli operation on Tehran, and “in defence of Lebanon”.