Iran Israel attack LIVE updates: Israel accuses Iran of intent to 'kill thousands' of civilians

Iran preparing imminent ballistic missile attack on Israel, US official says, warning of 'severe consequences' for Iran, reports AP.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on ground operations the army launched inside south Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, his office said on Tuesday.

"The minister discussed the localised and targeted raids that the IDF (Israeli army) launched overnight, against Hezbollah terror targets in the border area of southern Lebanon," said the statement from the defence ministry. (AFP)

Israeli forces have been carrying out raids into southern Lebanon for months, uncovering Hezbollah tunnels and weapon caches under homes and uncovering invasion plans by the group, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics said and fighting ramped up, as the Israeli military said it had been targeting command centres used by its Islamist militant foe Hamas. (Reuters)

At least 600 people sought refuge in a monastery on the Israel-Lebanon border on Tuesday after the Israeli military warned them to flee their Christian village of Ain Ebl, local residents said. (Reuters)

Israel sent soldiers into southern Lebanon in a major escalation of its weeks-long campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, increasing the risk of a wider Middle East conflict.

Troops began what Israel said were “targeted ground raids” shortly before midnight local time alongside airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the army later reported “intense fighting.” Lebanese media said heavy shelling took place in four villages just across the border. There were explosions in the coastal town of Ras Naqoura.

Israel launched a ground offensive in Lebanon on Tuesday, escalating a conflict against Hezbollah after a week of air strikes that have killed hundreds.

Several countries have begun evacuating their nationals from Lebanon or are planning to do so. (AFP)

Hezbollah has denied that Israeli troops have entered Lebanon but says its fighters are ready for a “direct confrontation” if they cross the border. In its first statement since Israel announced the start of ground operations, Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afifi said reports that Israeli forces had entered Lebanon were “false claims.” (AP)

Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had used new Fadi 4 missiles to attack the Tel Aviv headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the Glilot military base, where the army’s 8200 intelligence unit is headquartered on the outskirts of the Israeli city. (Reuters)

The United Nations on Tuesday warned against “large scale ground invasion” of Lebanon by Israeli forces soon, reported AFP.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about Israel's military activity in Lebanon and a strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus. Israel said intense fighting had erupted with the Hezbollah movement in south Lebanon on Tuesday after its paratroops and commandos launched raids there, at the start of a ground incursion that followed airstrikes against Hezbollah's leadership. (Reuters)

Israel's fresh strike in Gaza killed at least 21 Palestinians on Tuesday, reported Reuters. Israel said that it was targeting Hamas centres , while majority of the people killed were women and children.

Lebanon war live updates: Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mitaki and UN's Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza launched on Tuesday a $426 million appeal to help civilians affected by the escalating conflict, the U.N. said in a statement.

Lebanon war live updates: Air raid sirens were activated in central Israel on Tuesday as explosions were heard in Tel Aviv, with the military saying projectiles had been fired from Lebanon.

"Sirens sounded in central Israel following projectile launches that crossed from Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

-AFP

Lebanon war live updates: A French army spokesperson said on Tuesday that France will send a helicopter carrier to the eastern Mediterranean in the next five to six days and take up position in case a decision is taken to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon.

France, which has about 20,000 citizens in Lebanon, sent its Dixmude helicopter carrier from the naval port of Toulon to the region on Monday, the French army spokesperson said.

-Reuters

Lebanon war live updates: Explaining the reason for ground ‘incursion’, an Israeli military spokesperson alleged that Hezbollah had turned villages across its northern border into bases ready to launch attacks into Israel.

Israel said it will not allow a repeat of October 7 like situation in any of its borders and added that it is fighting Hezbollah and not the people of Lebanon.

Lebanon war live updates: An Israeli military spokesperson reported intense fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

"Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks," spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X asking residents not to move vehicles from the northern region to the southern region of the Litani River.

Lebanon war live updates: Adnan Abu Alhaija, the Palestinian Ambassador to India said the current right-wing government in Israel has repeatedly rejected any efforts to bring a ceasefire.

"All the people, even the United States, have defended Israel. The international arena calls Israel for a ceasefire, but Israelis and this extreme government (Netanyahu) are refusing the ceasefire," he said while expressing skepticism of peace anytime soon.

Lebanon war live updates: The Israeli military in a statement said it launched "precise" strikes on Hezbollah's weapon manufacturing site and related infrastructure in Beirut's Dahiyeh on Monday.

Lebanon war live updates: Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it had targeted Israeli troops with artillery fire across the border in Metula town in northern Israel.

The statement made no mention of Israel's cross border ‘limited’ ground invasion.

Lebanon war live updates: A suspected attack on Tuesday by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Red Sea. This likely marks their first assault on commercial shipping in weeks as the Israel's strikes in Lebanon threatens to become a regional conflict.

“All crew are safe, and the vessel is proceeding to (its) next port of call,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

The attack came off the port city of Hodeida. The Houthis have vowed to continue launching missiles targeting Israel over its war Gaza.

-AP

Lebanon war live updates: The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday reaffirmed its “unwavering” position towards the unity of Lebanon, its national sovereignty, and its territorial integrity, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

-Reuters

Lebanon war live updates: Two Iraqi military officials told Reuters early on Tuesday that multiple Katyusha rockets were fired near Baghdad International Airport. An U.S. official disputed reports that U.S. military forces were targeted in the incident.

"All military personnel are accounted for and military forces were not targeted as had been reported," the U.S. defence official told Reuters.

Sources earlier said at least two rockets fired at a US military base was intercepted.

Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq have repeatedly attacked U.S. troops in the Middle East since the Gaza war began.

Lebanon war live updates: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin warned Iran of “serious consequences” if it attacks Israel.

Iran's foreign ministry had said Israel's “criminal acts” won't go "unpunished" and the country would respond in a manner of its “own choice”.