Over the ten days of the renewed conflict in the Middle East, Beirut’s southern district of Dahiyeh has been targeted by Israel, which is looking to deal a knockout blow to Hezbollah. It’s not the first time the area has been bombarded. Dahiyeh was bombed by Israel during its 2006 war with Hezbollah, again in 2014 and yet again in 2024 and 2025. Now the Israel Defense Forces is bombing the area again.

The attacks mark the return of a strategy first developed by the Israeli armed forces in Dahiyeh before becoming a military doctrine, bearing the name of the suburb. The Dahiyeh doctrine is a military strategy that calls for using overwhelming and disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by hostile armed groups in order to deter attacks on Israel. It has repeatedly put into practice in Gaza. Now the Dahiyeh doctrine is once again being enacted in the place where it was first conceived.

Dahiyeh is a Hezbollah stronghold. It became the main urban centre of Lebanon’s Shia population in the middle of the last century when poor Shia families from Baalbek and south Lebanon migrated to Beirut’s suburbs.

During the civil war between 1975 and 1990, Hezbollah established its urban base in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Dahiyeh – the word means “suburb” – is the heart of Hezbollah’s political, social and service networks. Which is why it has become a target for Israel’s military.

Byword for mass urban destruction

The doctrine was developed in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel’s military leadership realised that Hezbollah had stalled their advance in urban combat.

To respond to this, the director of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Gabi Siboni, a former senior IDF officer, wrote a paper in the INSS journal in October 2008, arguing for the use of overwhelming force against both fighters and the urban environment in which they operated and lived.

This was developed by the IDF into a working strategy. As Gadi Eisenkot, head of the army’s northern division, explained at the time: “What happened in the Dahiya quarter of Beirut in 2006 will happen in every village from which Israel is fired on. We will apply disproportionate force on it (village) and cause great damage and destruction there. From our standpoint, these are not civilian villages, they are military bases. This is not a recommendation. This is a plan. And it has been approved.”

The primary goal of the doctrine was punishment and deterrence. The idea was to disrupt civilian life and make reconstruction almost impossible to afford. The doctrine’s architects hoped that its outcome would force the civilian population to rebel against the armed groups sheltering among them.

Siboni had made clear in his paper that this strategy was also applicable to Israel’s conflict in Gaza. In 2014, Operation Protective Edge targeted civilian infrastructure, including private houses as well as water, sanitation, electricity and healthcare facilities. Again, after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the IDF has applied the Dahiyeh doctrine in the Gaza Strip, this time destroying between 80% and 90% of its civilian infrastructure.

Critics argue this violates international humanitarian law (IHL). IHL demands that states and groups make a clear distinction between civilians and combatants. It is necessary for armed groups to take all precautions to avoid acts of extreme destruction in heavy civilian residential locations.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned that the blanket evacuation orders directed at Dahiyeh’s population risk violating international humanitarian law, saying they risk amounting to “prohibited forced displacement”. While Israeli strategists defend the doctrine as a means to defeat groups like Hezbollah, critics describe it as a template for handing out indiscriminate punishment to combatants and civilians alike.

What this means for Lebanon

The attacks on Dahieyh come at yet another fragile moment for Lebanon. The power-sharing government, led by the prime minister, Nawaf Salam, with the president, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, is still trying to implement economic reforms after the catastrophic 2019 financial collapse (estimated by the World Bank to be among the top three most severe economic crises globally since the mid-19th century). The latest round of conflict will severely set back the Lebanese government’s attempts to rebuild the economy.

The brunt of Israel’s assault on Lebanon is being felt in Dahiyeh. UN officials had estimated that the latest Israeli evacuation orders have forced at least 100,000 people to leave the area for shelters across Lebanon.

So far the Lebanese government’s response is to try to pull Hezbollah back from yet another drawn-out war with Israel. On March 2, Aoun formally banned Hezbollah from engaging in military activities and ordered the group to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese army. The government has also postponed the legislative election scheduled for May 2026 by two years.

The Lebanese government has put forward a four-point plan and called for an Israeli ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed. The plan calls for “establishing a full truce” with Israel, the disarmament of Hezbollah and direct negotiations with Israel “under international auspices”.

But the international community seems incapable of applying any pressure to change the situation in Lebanon. As of March 9, by UN estimates, nearly 700,000 people had been forced from their homes, including 200,000 children. Meanwhile, the IDF continues to carry out strikes in Dahiyeh.

The Dahiyeh doctrine is so effective for the IDF because it is designed to move faster than the often glacial workings of international diplomacy. It can accomplish a military objective before the international community can craft an agreed and workable plan. This is not the only time residential districts have been bombed or civilian infrastructure targeted. Far from it. Modern warfare is full of examples of bombing civilian districts and Hezbollah has also launched attacks against residential areas in Israel.

But in the years since the doctrine was first articulated, it has been observed at work in both Lebanon and in Gaza, where Israel’s approach to operating in civilian areas was was criticised by the UN after Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 as an official military strategy “designed to punish, humiliate and terrorise a civilian population”. As such, it’s a chilling illustration of the horror of modern warfare as waged in the Middle East today. And once again it appears to have come home to Dahiyeh.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Real Madrid teammate Federico Valverde ‘the most underrated footballer on the planet’ following his stunning hat-trick against Manchester City.

In the first leg of their Champions League last 16 showdown, Los Blancos took a commanding step towards the quarter-finals of the competition with a 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

With Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe ruled out, Valverde took centre stage, scoring all three goals in what was a magnificent performance from the Uruguay international.

The 27-year-old scored an injury time winner against Celta Vigo at the weekend and opened the scoring against Pep Guardiola’s side after 20 minutes, slotting home from a tight angle after beating Nico O’Reilly and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He doubled his haul seven minutes later before rounding off a hat-trick just before half-time, brilliantly flicking the ball over Marc Guehi before lashing home.

Valverde’s contribution to Real’s success has been invaluable but in a team of stars, is often overlooked. After tonight’s performance, Alexander-Arnold believes he may now start getting the credit he deserves.  

‘Even as a Liverpool player I admired him and I think he is undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet,’ Alexander-Arnold told TNT Sports.

‘When you have played with him you understands how much he gives to the team, he covers every blade of grass, he gives his all.

‘As a player, the best attribute you can have is that your teammates can always count on you and he is always there, he never lets us down.

‘Maybe people might start talking about him now but for many years he has been in that top bracket of midfielders’

While Real have a commanding lead to take to Manchester next week, Thibaut Courtois warned the tie is far from done.

‘In the Etihad I’ve lost 4-3, lost 4-0 – everything can happen there so we have to be calm, Courtois said.

‘It’s a very nice result I’m not going to lie but we have to keep our foot on the floor.’

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Manchester City have a mountain to climb heading into the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Etihad Stadium, following a damaging 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made his feelings clear to Joe Hart with a private message, claiming the Champions League tie with Real Madrid is far from over.

On TNT Sport, Hart lifted the lid on an interaction between the two after the full-time whistle and the former City goalkeeper said: “He said: ‘Let’s go, it’s not over, let’s go’, It gave me chills, I love that guy!”

Pep Guardiola’s side have a mountain to climb with Real Madrid racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time. A brilliant hat-trick from Fede Valverde has Alvaro Arbeloa’s side in total control ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.

A lot had been made of Los Blancos’ extensive injury list ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with their old adversaries at the Bernabeu, with notable absentees including Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.

However, Valverde rose to the occasion and the Uruguayan midfielder tore City to shreds with a ruthless display of finishing.

He netted three times in just 22 minutes and things could have deteriorated further for Pep Guardiola’s men had Donnarumma not denied Vinicius Junior from the penalty spot in the second half.

It capped a miserable 48 hours for English clubs in the Spanish capital following Tottenham’s 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

City, who had entered the tie as favourites, have a daunting challenge in next week’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium.

The away side actually began positively and tried to impose themselves on Real Madrid. Antoine Semenyo unleashed an early effort at Thibaut Courtois whilst the energetic Jeremy Doku fired efforts across the goalmouth.

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Nico O’Reilly also came close and Bernardo Silva sent a volley narrowly wide as they tried to capitalise on a depleted Real Madrid side.

But the hosts issued a warning when former City academy graduate Brahim Diaz drew a save from Donnarumma, though it went ignored.

The Premier League side were caught napping by a long delivery from Courtois which sailed over O’Reilly’s head, and Valverde controlled it superbly in his stride. He then glided past Donnarumma and finished superbly while off-balance from a narrow angle.

City had scarcely had chance to recover before Valverde added his second seven minutes later. He may have benefited from fortune as a Vinicius pass deflected into his path, but there was nothing lucky about his touch as he composed himself to fire a low left-footed effort beyond Donnarumma.

The third was the best of the bunch and completed his stunning hat-trick before the interval as Jude Bellingham watched on in awe.

Valverde flicked the ball over the head of Marc Guehi and hammered home a volley to ramp up the pressure on City ahead of the return fixture.

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Southern California is set for unseasonably hot weather, with summer-like temperatures predicted despite it technically still being winter. Downtown Los Angeles could reach 93 degrees Fahrenheit (33.8 Celsius).

The National Weather Service (NWS) expects temperatures to be about 20 degrees warmer than normal for mid-March. This raises the risk of heat illness, with forecasters urging people to avoid outdoor activities during the daytime.

“If you must be outdoors, drink a lot of water,” said Richard Thompson, a meteorologist with the NWS Los Angeles office. “There’s definitely the potential for records being set.”

Thursday is anticipated as the hottest day, with the San Fernando Valley possibly hitting 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius). Typical mid-March temperatures are usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius).

Workers at outdoor construction sites will have plenty of drinking water and electrolyte packets available to stay hydrated. They’re instructed to take frequent breaks, said Junior Pineda, a representative with a local unit of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers.

“And there’s always shade structures, if guys start feeling a little light-headed and need to take a few minutes,” he said.

Los Angeles city and county officials planned to open cooling centers for residents without air conditioning.

Zack Marquez, who uses a wheelchair, was taking care of errands Wednesday before it got too hot in LA’s Koreatown neighborhood.

“Gotta stay hydrated and stay in the shade,” he said.

A sea breeze on Friday should cool down the coast somewhat, but inland areas will still swelter, forecasters said.

Celebrities are streaming into Los Angeles ahead of Sunday’s Oscars, with a bevy of events this week taking advantage of the concentration of stars. But the worst of the weather should be over in time for the ceremony.

The rest of the state will also see hotter-than-normal weather starting next week. Temperatures could top 90 (32 Celsius) on Monday around San Francisco and in the Sacramento area.

Kai Havertz scored a controversial late penalty for Arsenal upon his return to Bayer Leverkusen and the forward has now spoken out after finding the back of the net

Kai Havertz admitted he felt sorry for his Bayer Leverkusen rivals after netting a late penalty against his former side. The German was successful from the spot kick with a minute of normal time remaining.

It had come after substitute Noni Madueke went down under very little contact. Havertz, who made 150 appearances for Leverkusen before a move to Chelsea, muted his celebrations.

Asked about the goal, he revealed he had sympathy for his former employers. Speaking to DAZN, he said: “Penalty in the last minute are not always so easy. But these are the moments I have worked for years for, to be there in such moments.

“That’s why I’m naturally happy. I am glad that I stepped up, glad that I scored. I am naturally sorry for the Leverkusen players. But that is football and I was happy.”

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The goal was a crucial one for Arsenal, having battled back from 1-0 down following Robert Andrich’s opener. The Bayer Leverkusen captain hit out at the decision to award Arsenal their spot kick.

He said: “That is already very little. Of course he [Madueke] should not go down like that. I also know such situations: if you go down and maybe have the feeling: ‘Oh s***, now I’m already down.’ But that is already very, very little.

He added: “My feeling was that the small contact comes and he still falls a bit later. If I see it twice more, it is even less. That is surely not enough.”

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Meanwhile, Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand was left far from happy with the decision. He said: “There’s no contact and then he goes down.

“It’s not a penalty. That’s a situation where if the referee doesn’t blow his whistle and VAR checks it, then there’s no penalty.”

Arsenal will welcome Leverkusen to the Emirates Stadium next week as they aim to seal a spot in the Champions League quarter finals. Should they find a way past the German side, they will take on either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon, the former having won their first-leg 3-0.

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Asked about Havertz, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “Yes, how composed he took and yes, football is a funny game and it brings special stories and him coming back here after such a long time, being part of this club, to come here and score such an important goal, I think it’s a big moment.”

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