Friday Briefing: Israel Expands Evacuation Orders in Lebanon

The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 20 more towns and villages in southern Lebanon, signaling a potential expansion of its assault on Hezbollah. The areas covered in the evacuation order lie above the upper boundary of a buffer zone that the U.N. established after Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006.

The Lebanese Army said it had exchanged fire with the Israeli military after one of its soldiers was killed by Israeli fire. Although the clash appeared to be contained, the exchange was a potentially dangerous development. Lebanon’s armed forces are not actively engaged in combat with the Israeli military. They are backed and funded by the U.S. and are loyal to the state of Lebanon, not the Iranian-supported Hezbollah.

Beirut bombing: Lebanese health officials said the death toll from an Israeli strike near the heart of the capital city had risen to at least nine people. No apparent warning preceded the overnight strike.

Oil: Prices jumped after President Biden, when asked if he would support an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil facilities, said, “We’re discussing that.” Iran’s oil infrastructure accounts for about 2 percent of the world’s supply.