Israel has launched a new wave of airstrikes on Beirut, targeting areas beyond Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds while ordering evacuations in southern Lebanon as its offensive intensifies.

One of the strikes flattened a building in central Beirut, a district known for its businesses and hotels rather than militant activity, according to on-the-ground reporting.

At the same time, the United States military said it deployed “deep penetrator” bombs against Iranian missile installations near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor that has been effectively disrupted since the conflict began.

Tensions escalated further after Israel killed senior Iranian official Ali Larijani, prompting a warning from Iran’s military leadership of a “decisive” response. The killing marks one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership since the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, deepening instability within the country’s power structure.

Iran and its allied militias have continued retaliatory attacks across the region. In Tel Aviv, two people were killed, while explosions and drone interceptions were reported in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Inside Iran, civilians are facing mounting fear as the conflict intensifies. Residents in Tehran described living under constant threat, with one woman saying she is too afraid to leave her home, calling it “like gambling with my life.”