Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 570, with 1,444 others wounded since the escalation began on March 2, according to figures released Tuesday by the Lebanese Disaster Risk Management Unit.

The conflict has triggered large-scale displacement across the country, with 759,300 people uprooted from their homes, official data showed.

Authorities said 122,600 displaced people are currently staying in 580 shelters set up across various regions to house families forced to flee amid continued hostilities.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israel carried out three airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday afternoon, and continued strikes on several areas in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel early on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov 27, 2024. The move prompted the Lebanese government to ban the group's security and military activities, limiting it to political work and requiring it to hand over its weapons.

The Israeli military said it had launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out heavy airstrikes across multiple Lebanese areas and conducting ground incursions near the border. It also warned residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 570, displacing nearly 760,000: Lebanese gov't

Soaring oil prices triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East have heightened U.S. inflation pressures, with analysts warning that households face hundreds of dollars in extra costs if crude climbs further.

Data released on Tuesday by the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed that the national average price of regular gasoline in the United States has risen 18.64 percent compared with Feb. 26. The AAA data also indicated that the national average price of diesel on Tuesday was up 22.85 percent from a week earlier.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at global ratings agency Moody's, warned that U.S. consumers are being threatened by a sharp rise in fuel prices. He said that if international oil prices climb by another 10 U.S. dollars per barrel, annual spending for an average U.S. household would increase by about 450 dollars.

Zandi noted that a surge in oil prices would intensify inflationary pressure in the United States, eroding consumers' purchasing power and weighing on consumption, economic growth, and employment.

Tensions sharply escalated across the Middle East on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel launched large-scale joint airstrikes on Iran. The Iranian side has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region, hitting many countries in the Gulf.

Escalating Middle East tensions drive up energy prices, squeezing US consumers