Israel said it deployed more forces in Lebanon to protect its people, but its military chief said the goal is more ambitious: to disarm Hezbollah. Israel made plans for the incursion well in advance.

In response, the Lebanese army said it has redeployed soldiers from several recently established border positions on Tuesday following the Israeli army's "escalation", a Lebanese military source told AFP.

Trump added that he had ordered oil tanker insurance support, a move that marks an aggressive step to try to contain soaring energy prices.

Israel and the US escalated their military campaign against Iran, pounding Iranian military and strategic infrastructure in a broad aerial offensive that US President Donald Trump said could last several weeks.

The U.S. announced the names of four soldiers who were killed by an Iranian drone on Sunday. The leader of the U.S. Central Command said more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighters, two aircraft carriers and bombers were participating in the fighting.

“When war crimes and other grave abuses take place with complete impunity, they are likely to happen again, with civilians paying the price,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Allied countries need to put pressure on Israel and Hezbollah to abide by the laws of war and minimize civilian harm.”

Israeli strike hits Hezbollah-aligned media building in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation warning.

Israel has been conducting air strikes across Lebanon since March 2. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.