Hezbollah on Sunday said it had targeted an Israeli warship with a cruise missile off the Lebanese coast, the first such claim by the group since the start of the Middle East war.

The Israeli military said on Saturday it would strike the main crossing between Syria and Lebanon, urging people to evacuate immediately.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Saturday said Iran is violating Lebanon's sovereignty "through Hezbollah," in comments related to the war that has been raging since March 2.

The Israeli military said Saturday it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut's southern suburbs after it destroyed a bridge in West Bekaa to allegedly prevent the Iran-backed group's reinforcements from crossing.

Israel destroyed a bridge in West Bekaa on Friday, Lebanese official media reported, after Israel's military warned it would hit two bridges in the area to prevent possible transfer of reinforcements to Hezbollah.

The United Nations force in Lebanon said a blast at one of its positions wounded three peacekeepers on Friday, the third such incident in a week.

The U.S. embassy in Lebanon, where Tehran-backed Hezbollah is at war with Israel, said on Friday that Iran and allied groups could seek to target universities in the country.

Fresh strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday as the Israeli army said it was striking Hezbollah "infrastructure", hours after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for the area.

When the Israel- Hezbollah war broke out in early March, Hussein Shuman fled the heavy bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut, but he didn't bother trying to rent an apartment elsewhere.

In areas deemed "safe" because the Lebanese militant group has no presence, he feels that Shiite Muslims like him are not welcome. Residents regard them with suspicion as potential Hezbollah members, and landlords charge exorbitant prices to rent to displaced families.

The Israeli military said Friday it had struck more than 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the month since fighting with Hezbollah began.