In a statement, the Iran-backed group said the vessel was struck about 68 nautical miles from the Lebanese coast, alleging it had been preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military regarding the claim.Israeli naval forces have been involved in operations against targets in Lebanon in recent weeks, including using warships to carry out strikes along the coastline as hostilities with Hezbollah intensified.

The reported attack underscores a potential expansion of the conflict into the maritime domain, as cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue alongside the broader regional war involving Iran and its allies.

The Israeli military said the Masnaa crossing was being used by Hezbollah for transferring combat equipment, and warned that strikes on the site were imminent. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called on residents and travelers to leave the area immediately.

A Lebanese security source confirmed that the crossing was being evacuated following the warning. On the Syrian side, the crossing known as Jdeidet Yabous was described by border authorities as strictly civilian, with officials denying any military use and announcing a temporary suspension of traffic for safety reasons.

The Masnaa crossing is Lebanon’s primary land route to Syria and a key corridor for trade and civilian movement. Israel previously struck the crossing in October 2024 during earlier hostilities with Hezbollah, forcing its closure until repairs were completed after a ceasefire.

The warning comes amid intensified Israeli operations across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah joined the broader regional conflict alongside its ally Iran. Israeli forces have since conducted widespread airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on Maaraka near the southern city of Tyre killed five people and wounded one. Earlier strikes in Habbush killed two girls and wounded 22 others, while an attack on Al-Hawsh injured 18 people and damaged a nearby hospital, according to official statements.

Despite evacuation warnings covering much of southern Lebanon, tens of thousands of residents have fled Tyre, though about 20,000 people remain, including many displaced from surrounding villages.Lebanese state media reported additional Israeli strikes across the country, including on infrastructure in the West Bekaa region, where a bridge was destroyed after repeated attacks.

The Israeli military said it had struck more than 140 Hezbollah targets over the previous two days.Hezbollah said it carried out retaliatory attacks on northern Israeli towns and Israeli forces near the border, including in Marun Al-Ras and other southern Lebanese locations.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon and killed over 1,400, including medical personnel and UN peacekeepers, according to Lebanese authorities. A United Nations security official said Israeli forces also destroyed surveillance cameras linked to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon headquarters in Naqura.

The peacekeeping mission has been caught in escalating cross-border hostilities, as Israeli forces push deeper into southern Lebanon and Hezbollah continues attacks into northern Israel.

The assault occurred late Tuesday in Shanga local government area, where security personnel had been deployed following warnings of an imminent attack, according to state government spokesman Yahaya Sarki.

Several soldiers were also injured when militants opened fire in the village of Giron Masa.

Officials said the attackers struck as troops were mobilizing, leaving multiple casualties and destroying vehicles. Images released by authorities showed burned military equipment along a rural road surrounded by forested terrain.

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris visited injured personnel in hospital, describing the incident as a significant loss and pledging support for affected families.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though residents have pointed to the Islamic State Sahel Province, locally known as Lakurawa, which has become increasingly active in northwestern Nigeria.

Militant groups linked to Islamic State and other networks have expanded operations across border regions in recent years, exploiting limited state presence and porous frontiers.

Worsening security crisisThe attack underscores a broader pattern of violence across northern Nigeria, where security forces and civilians are frequently targeted.

The region has witnessed a surge in militant activity, kidnappings and armed raids, with multiple deadly incidents reported in recent months.

Authorities have not announced immediate retaliatory measures as investigations continue into the Kebbi ambush.

Speaking at UN headquarters, Guterres said the conflict had exceeded even worst-case expectations, warning of a potential global catastrophe if fighting continues.

He reiterated that diplomacy and adherence to international law remain the only viable path to de-escalation.

Guterres urged Tehran to stop strikes against regional states, noting that the United Nations Security Council has already condemned such actions and demanded their cessation. He also stressed the importance of safeguarding navigation rights in critical waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He called on Washington and Israel to bring the war to an end, citing rising civilian casualties and intensifying humanitarian and economic consequences. “This has gone too far,” he said, warning against further escalation.

The UN chief said the prolonged disruption of maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, is constraining the flow of oil, gas and fertilizers at a crucial time for global agriculture, amplifying economic shocks and threatening food security.

He warned that the conflict’s repercussions are disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, with humanitarian operations under increasing strain as violence spreads across multiple fronts.

Referring to his recent visit to Lebanon, Guterres cautioned against further deterioration there, calling on Hezbollah to halt attacks into Israel and urging Israel to stop strikes in Lebanese territory.

He warned that the humanitarian crisis seen in Gaza must not be repeated in Lebanon.Guterres said he remains engaged with regional and international stakeholders and announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to coordinate diplomatic efforts related to the conflict and its broader consequences.

He emphasized that ending the war remains the most effective way to mitigate global disruption, reiterating that “peace is the way out.”

Qassem said proposals to negotiate “under fire” were unacceptable, describing them as an imposed capitulation rather than a pathway to de-escalation. He criticized the Lebanese president’s push for direct engagement with Israel, which he said remains an adversary occupying Lebanese land and conducting ongoing attacks.

The Hezbollah chief framed the timing of the proposed talks as coercive, arguing that dialogue cannot take place under active military pressure. His remarks underscore deep divisions within Lebanon’s political leadership over how to respond to the escalating conflict and external threats.

Qassem also called on the Lebanese government to reverse its March 2 decision banning Hezbollah’s military activities, presenting the move as necessary for safeguarding national interests during a period of heightened regional instability.

Appealing to the public, Qassem urged Lebanese citizens to rally around “national unity,” linking internal cohesion to the country’s ability to withstand external pressures.

He said unity would require political alignment on the role of Hezbollah’s armed wing in Lebanon’s defense posture.

His comments come as displacement rises across the country, with makeshift encampments expanding in Beirut and other areas amid continued cross-border hostilities and airstrikes.

Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, said the strikes targeted Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries and Jordan, characterizing them as breaches of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He described the actions as “cowardly” and said they undermined regional stability and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Addressing the council, bin Khothaila said that targeting neighboring states and mediators amounted to a violation of the principles of good neighborliness and a betrayal of peace initiatives.

He added that attacks on countries not directly involved in the conflict were “unjustifiable and unacceptable.”He accused Iran of pursuing a strategy involving support for militias and destabilization of neighboring countries, warning that such conduct posed a direct threat to international peace and security.

He also said the attacks had caused civilian casualties and damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure.

The Saudi envoy stated that the strikes constituted serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. He rejected any attempt by Tehran to deny responsibility, saying the evidence was clear and accountability unavoidable.

“Continuing this approach will bring Iran no gains, but will instead impose a high political and economic cost and deepen its isolation,” he said, urging Iranian authorities to reconsider their actions.

Bin Khothaila also condemned attacks on commercial shipping and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting their implications for global energy markets and trade.

He warned that interference with energy supplies and food systems could have severe consequences, particularly for developing economies vulnerable to external shocks.

Calling for a stronger international response, he said the situation demanded urgent action to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, adding that “silence is no longer an option.”