The Israeli military said it had begun a “wave of strikes” on positions in the capital’s southern districts, including areas such as Tahouitet Al-Ghadir, following evacuation warnings issued to residents earlier in the day.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple strikes across south Beirut, as well as in southern and eastern regions of the country. The health ministry said an attack on the town of Saksakiyeh in the Sidon district killed six people, including three children, and wounded 17 others.

In the Bekaa region, authorities said a strike killed a pregnant woman and injured seven people. Lebanese officials estimate that more than 1,100 people have been killed since the escalation began, with over one million displaced, including around 136,000 sheltering in collective facilities.

Hezbollah said its fighters had engaged Israeli troops “at point-blank range” in the villages of Bayada and Shamaa, near the border, and claimed additional attacks on Israeli targets.

It also said it had fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli warplane over Beirut. The claims could not be independently verified.The Israeli military said its forces had uncovered weapons, including anti-tank missiles, in a school in Khiam, a strategic border town that has seen repeated fighting.

Israeli troops are advancing into multiple towns in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to establish a buffer zone extending to the Litani River, aimed at pushing Hezbollah forces away from the frontier and securing northern Israeli communities.

Army spokesperson Effie Defrin said Hezbollah continued to operate from southern Lebanon despite earlier commitments by the Lebanese government, adding that Israeli forces would act to neutralize the group if it was not disarmed.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned that Lebanon faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with representative Karolina Lindholm Billing saying the risk of catastrophe was “real.”International Committee of the Red Cross regional director Nicolas Von Arx said civilians were bearing the brunt of the conflict and urged all parties to ensure their protection.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s entry into the conflict on March 2, when it fired rockets toward Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, triggering a broader regional confrontation.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iranian negotiators were “begging for a deal,” dismissing Tehran’s public stance as inaccurate. Araghchi, speaking on state television, said there had been no direct dialogue with Washington, adding that exchanges via intermediaries did not constitute negotiations.

He said Iran was conveying its positions and warnings through friendly countries.The divergence in messaging comes as military operations continue. U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted extensive strikes on Iranian targets since late February, while Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf states.

A U.S. Central Command briefing said more than 10,000 targets had been struck, with significant degradation of Iran’s naval, missile, and drone capabilities.

The conflict has disrupted global energy flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for oil and liquefied natural gas. Its effective closure has triggered what officials describe as a severe energy shock, driving up fuel prices and straining supply chains across industries from aviation to agriculture.

Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of ADNOC, described restrictions on Hormuz as “economic terrorism,” warning of global consequences. Governments are considering intervention measures similar to those deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses face rising costs and weakening demand.

The World Food Programme has warned that prolonged disruption could push tens of millions into acute hunger, with farmers and fisheries already facing fuel shortages.

A 15-point U.S. proposal, conveyed to Iran through Pakistan, includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, curbing Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and halting support for regional allies, according to Israeli sources familiar with the plan.

The White House has not publicly detailed the proposal.Israeli officials expressed skepticism that Tehran would accept the terms and voiced concern that U.S. negotiators could offer concessions.

Iran, according to regional sources, has insisted that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire framework involving Washington and Israel.

Financial markets reflected fading optimism over a near-term resolution. Global equities weakened on Thursday while oil prices resumed their upward trajectory. Analysts cited diminishing expectations of a ceasefire as a key driver of volatility.

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy additional airborne troops to the Gulf, supplementing Marine units already en route, according to sources. The buildup is intended to expand military options as the conflict risks widening.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the situation could escalate further, urging a shift from military confrontation to diplomacy.