Rescuers work near a damaged car at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the town of Aramoun, South of Beirut, March 4, 2026. FADEL ITANI / AFP
Explosions rocked the Lebanese capital and Israel said it was launching a new wave of overnight strikes on Iran, as the war engulfing the Middle East continued into Wednesday, March 4.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on two towns South of Beirut – outside of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds – killed six people and wounded eight. Later on Wednesday Lebanese state media said Israeli strikes hit a hotel in the Beirut suburb of Hazmieh and a four-story building in the eastern city of Baalbek.
Israel says launching new wave of strikes
Israel’s military said Wednesday it has launched a “broad wave of strikes” on targets in Iran, after the Islamic republic launched three separate missile barrages at Israeli territory.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said it had struck an underground nuclear site in Iran where it said scientists were “covertly” developing a key component for nuclear weapons.
Drone attack on Dubai’s US consulate
A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.
Residents told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that they heard a bang and one said she then saw the blaze. Police cordoned off roads nearby and shooed away passersby trying to see the damage.
Charter flights to help Americans leave
The United States said that it had arranged charter flights to help Americans leave the Middle East.
US officials have helped arrange charter flights from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates “and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow,” the State Department said.