Powerful explosions rocked Beirut after Israel expanded its military campaign, striking targets in Lebanon and launching what it described as a new wave of attacks on Iran.

An Israeli strike hit a hotel in Beirut's suburb of Hazmieh. Additional airstrikes targeted a four-storey building in Baalbek. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, earlier strikes south of Beirut killed six people and injured eight, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

The escalation comes as Israel intensifies operations against Iran. The Israeli military said it had launched a “broad wave of strikes” after multiple missile barrages were fired toward Israeli territory. It also claimed to have hit an underground nuclear site allegedly linked to weapons development.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. forces in the region, said nearly 2,000 targets in Iran have been struck since the conflict escalated. He stated that Iran’s air defenses were “severely degraded,” with hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones destroyed.

The violence is spilling across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting two cruise missiles near Riyadh and shooting down nine drones. Qatar said it dismantled two alleged Iranian-linked spy cells and arrested 10 suspects. In Dubai, a drone strike sparked a fire near the U.S. consulate.

The U.S. Department of State has authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel from Saudi Arabia and Oman, arranging charter flights to assist Americans leaving the region.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, vowing to guarantee the “free flow of energy” amid mounting fears of supply disruptions.

Global markets reacted sharply. Oil prices surged, triggering a widespread stock sell-off. Seoul’s benchmark index plunged more than 12%, while U.S. markets initially fell before trimming losses.

In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle would be redeployed to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the expanding crisis.