Lebanon-Israel live: Hezbollah confirms Tel Aviv missile attack as Starmer tells Britons to leave Lebanon now
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed more than 560 people, including women and 50 children, says health ministry
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Hezbollah has confirmed that it fired a missile at the Israeli spy agency in Tel Aviv, an escalation in the conflict with Israel that moved the arch-foes another step closer to full-fledged war.
The Israeli military said a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems after it was detected crossing from Lebanon. Warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, Israel's economic capital.
It comes as hundreds of British troops are being sent to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of Britons from Lebanon.
Around 700 soldiers are deploying imminently to assist hundreds of those already in Cyprus and waiting to help stranded British citizens. Government officials fear that there may be more than 10,000 British citizens still in Lebanon.
Sir Keir Starmer earlier urged Britons in Lebanon to “leave immediately” as Israel intensifies its bombing campaign against Hezbollah. He added that he believes the conflict between Israel and Lebanon is on the “brink point”.
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Thousands flee Israel airstrikes on Lebanon with what little they can: ‘We’re afraid for a big war’
Thousands of people have arrived in the Lebanese city of Aley, about 12 miles from Beirut, since Israel intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah – fleeing the south where the bombardment has been focused.
“We smelled the bombs. Then we started to see traffic jams. My children panicked and cried, so we decided to leave.”
Cosette Molijn speaks to the people fleeing Israeli shelling in Lebanon:
Thousands flee Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon: ‘We’re afraid for a big war’
Israel claims to have killed a senior Hezbollah commander in strike on Beirut – as total death toll this week crosses 560
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