Nearly 700,000 people have fled their homes in Lebanon, the U.N. says, as Israel’s sweeping evacuation orders and intensifying airstrikes turn the country into a major new front in the widening Middle East war.

The escalation is rippling far beyond Lebanon, driving regional displacement, deepening humanitarian fears and shaking global energy markets. This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would mark the “most intense day” of U.S. strikes on Iran, even as global markets rallied on President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the war could be “over soon.”

What to know on day 11

• Israeli strikes continued across Lebanon and Iran, with a resident in Tehran warning the city could face severe destruction if bombardment persists.

• Tens of thousands of displaced people in Beirut are sheltering in schools, government buildings, cars and along the city’s waterfront.

• The Trump administration eased restrictions on Russian oil exports to counter rising gas prices amid the war's disruption of global markets.

• Iran has started laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to two individuals familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments, raising the stakes in a waterway that carries roughly one fifth of the world’s crude oil.

• Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, prompting Pakistan to escort tankers to secure energy supplies.

• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday acknowledged reports that roughly 150 U.S. service members have been injured during the ongoing offensive against Iran, saying the figure is “in that ballpark.”

• Iranian officials say U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed about 1,300 people in Iran, while nearly 500 have been killed in Lebanon, according to state media.

• Strikes on Iranian fuel depots have created hazardous conditions, including black rain and air quality concerns.

• New video evidence suggests an American missile likely hit an elementary school in Iran, contradicting claims that Iran was responsible.

Residents of Tehran struggled to sleep through intense overnight bombing as the U.S.–Israeli assault on Iran continued to send shockwaves across the region, driving economic uncertainty and leaving civilians — including children — bearing the brunt of the violence.

Fresh strikes were also reported across several Gulf states, while pressure is mounting on Washington to explain footage of a U.S. Tomahawk strike that killed at least 168 children in southern Iran last month.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon, conducting what they describe as “targeted raids.” The fighting has spread into Christian villages near the border, where an eminent priest was killed after vowing to remain with his congregation. Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 486 people have died since March 2.

In Washington, lawmakers are raising alarms over the pace of U.S. military spending. The Pentagon told Congress that more than $5 billion in munitions were used in the first 48 hours of the conflict, fueling concerns that the offensive could strain weapons stockpiles and require additional emergency funding. (Source: Newsweek)

Story Date: March 11, 2026