As Israel intensifies its campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, Lebanon is now teetering on the brink of being fully sucked into the escalating US and Israeli war on Iran – a fate the fragile Lebanese government has been desperate to avoid.

By Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, March 3 (Reuters) - At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated this week,

The Israeli military said troops advanced to protect border towns from Hezbollah attacks, spurring fears that the government is weighing a wider ground war.

Israeli strike hits Hezbollah-aligned media building in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation warning.

BEIRUT, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Lebanon's presidency said on ⁠Saturday ⁠it had been told ⁠by the U.S. ambassador that Israel would not escalate against Lebanon ​as long as there are no hostile acts from the Lebanese side, following the ‌launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes on ‌Iran.

Israel and the US escalated their military campaign against Iran, pounding Iranian military and strategic infrastructure in a broad aerial offensive that US President Donald Trump said could last several weeks.

The Israeli military said it had seized areas of southern Lebanon on Tuesday in an escalating conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, as the State Department closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after drone attacks and urged Americans to depart immediately from 14 Middle East countries.

Across Iran’s capital, explosions rang out overnight as the U.S. and Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes. Iran and its allies have hit back against Israel and neighboring Gulf states.