Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'something that we don't need'

Israel's military is preparing to expand activity in Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.

"I warned the Lebanese president that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel -- we will take the territory and do it ourselves," Katz said in remarks at a military operations center in Tel Aviv.

"The prime minister and I instructed the IDF to prepare to expand IDF activity in Lebanon and restore peace and security to the northern communities," Katz added.

An Israeli military official told ABC News on Thursday that more than 200 rockets were fired toward Israel from Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and members.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Dana Savir

The Iranian military claimed on Thursday to have struck a vessel owned by a U.S. company off the Iraqi coast in the Persian Gulf, saying it targeted the "Safesea Vishnu" after the vessel "disobeyed and ignored the warnings" of the Iranian navy.

That oil tanker, which was sailing under a Marshall Islands flag, was identified by Iraq's state oil company as one of two hit with projectiles in the country's territorial waters early on Thursday.

The other ship struck nearby was the "Zefyros," a Maltese-flagged oil and chemical tanker, Iraq said. Iran did not claim responsibility for that apparent attack.

Both ships were hit with projectiles that resulted in fires onboard, according to U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, a tracking organization.

Videos verified by ABC News show flames engulfing the "Safesea Vishnu" as the crew of an adjacent vessel throw rubber rings to people in the water.

A third ship was also struck Thursday morning off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz, the UKMTO organization said. Iran also did not claim responsibility for that strike.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement announcing the "Safesea" strike that it was policing the gulf and strait to ensure vessels "act in accordance with the laws and regulations" that Iran has put in place "in order to remain safe from being hit by stray projectiles."

-ABC News' Helena Skinner and Somayeh Malekian

A ship was reported to have been hit early on Thursday by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, a few hours after two ships were similarly struck in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iraq, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Center, a tracking organization.

The vessel was struck by an "unknown" projectile 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, the United Arab Emirates, causing a small fire on board, according to the UKMTO.

Two tankers were also hit in the early hours of Thursday morning by "unknown" projectiles, leading to fires on board both ships, the UKMTO said in an earlier alert and update.

The vessels were hit off the coast approximately 5 nautical miles south of al Basrah, Iraq, according to the UKMTO. All crew members were evacuated, the organization said.

-ABC News' Zoe Magee

The Israeli military continued strikes on Thursday morning in Beirut, where several explosions were reported in the southern part of the city.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the strikes in a statement, saying "the IDF continues to strike terrorist infrastructure in the heart of Beirut with intensity."

"Among the targets struck were terrorist infrastructure, weapons storage facilities, central headquarters, and the IRGC Air Force headquarters in Beirut," the IDF said. "So far, approximately 70 terrorist targets have been struck in the Beirut area, including buildings that were used by Hezbollah for terrorist purposes."

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti