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As hostilities ramp up, Israelis evacuated from the country’s north say Hezbollah must be pushed back to protect communities from its rocketsFor the Israeli communities evacuated from the country’s far north in the aftermath of 7 October, there is no longer any doubt about whether full-scale war with Hezbollah in Lebanon is going to happen. For most people, the only question is when.Nissan Zeevi,...

The IDF is embroiled in simultaneous conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran and in the West Bank – but hadn’t reckoned on the social and political divisions this would causeYoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, described the conflict Israel was engaged in as a “multi-front war” earlier this month.Israeli forces were fighting Hamas inside Gaza and engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah on...

The attack, blamed on a suicide bomber, killed 85 people, wounded 300 and devastated Latin America’s biggest Jewish communityA new ruling by Argentina’s highest criminal court has blamed Iran for the fatal 1994 attack against a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, declaring it a “crime against humanity” in a decision that paves the way for victims to seek justice.That huge blast at the...

US declaring commitment to Israeli security while also working to prevent regional war, say officialsThe US is seeking to deter Iran from carrying out a retaliatory strike against Israel with concerted declarations of commitment to Israeli security, while at the same time trying to prevent the outbreak of a major regional war, officials in Washington have said.US officials still believe that a direct Iranian...

Tehran, wary of igniting open warfare with Washington, has told militia groups it backs to curtail assaults on targets such as military installations, Iranian and American officials say.

The Lebanese militant movement put on a play to stir the faithful. Watching it made me wonder about the real-life dramas that don’t make it to the stage.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) said President Biden is taking too long when it comes to responding to Iran over its connections to groups it is supporting and their aggressions toward the U.S. "It's been too long for a while. If you look at the attacks that have taken place since October 7, on U.S. interests,...

In today’s newsletter: As David Cameron warns of “flashing red” security risks since 7 October, the Guardian’s Jason Burke explains the dangers of regional escalation involving Iran’s proxies• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. “It is hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity and instability in the world,” the UK’s foreign secretary...

US Central Command says missile from Houthi-controlled area of Yemen was launched towards USS Laboon before being shot down by fighter jetsMiddle East crisis – live updatesUS fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen at one of its warships in the Red Sea, the US military said on Sunday night.The missile was fired towards the USS...

US military says second nighttime attack ‘designed to degrade the Houthis’ ability to attack maritime vessels’See all our Middle East crisis coverageIsrael accused South Africa of presenting a “profoundly distorted” view of hostilities, “barely distinguishable” from that of Hamas, as it presented its defence at the international court of justice in The Hague against accusations of genocide.My colleague, the Guardian’s legal affairs correspondent Haroon...

Armed forces minister James Heappey says action was self-defence after attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi militantsSee all our Middle East crisis coverageLebanon’s powerful armed group Hezbollah has also reacted on Friday to the airstrikes and condemned them.Reuters says that the group has released a statement saying:The American aggression confirms once again that the US is a full partner in...

Israel has described the case as ‘preposterous’ and is set to defend itself; the international court of justice (ICJ) hears arguments alleging that Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians.See all of our updates on the conflict in the Middle East and the Israel-Gaza warThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) authority has posted to social media that it has received a report of a...

Attack with 21 drones and missiles by Iran-backed rebels comes despite planned UN security council vote on Wednesday to potentially demand halt to the assaultsSee all our Middle East crisis coverageThe Times of Israel reports that Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet will meet at 7pm tonight (5pm GMT) to discuss Israeli plans for the Gaza Strip when the war has finished.The Palestinian news agency Wafa...

IDF says no damage or casualties caused after Lebanese militant group launches explosives at Safed baseMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael and Hezbollah edged closer towards full scale war on Tuesday, as the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group launched explosive drones at a key Israeli command base, declaring the attack part of its response to recent high-level Israeli assassinations in Lebanon.Hezbollah announced it had launched...

Israel’s president criticises claim of genocide brought to international court of justiceHere is a photograph issued of the meeting between Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, and the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv.During the public portion of the meeting Herzog said a lawsuit filed in the international court of justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive was...

US secretary of state poised for meetings with leaders who have so far proved resistant to pressure from WashingtonThe US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has landed in Israel for potentially difficult meetings with Israeli leaders and officials who have repeatedly proved resistant to pressure from Washington over their conduct of the war against Hamas.Blinken flew late on Monday night from the Saudi oasis...

Escalation of violence comes as US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and Europe’s Josep Borrell begin tours of the region• Middle East crisis – live updatesThe most senior diplomats from the US and the EU launched a dual diplomatic offensive in the Middle East on Saturday aimed at calming tensions that threaten chaos and wider conflict across the region.Antony Blinken, the US secretary of...

Hassan Nasrallah says assassination in Beirut has changed nature of his group’s conflict with Israel, raising fears of escalationMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe assassination of one of Hamas’s most senior officials in Beirut has changed the nature of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Hezbollah’s head, Hassan Nasrallah, has said, adding that a response is “inevitable”.In a second nationally televised address within three...

The head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service has vowed to track down and kill all Hamas leaders responsible for attacking Israel, less than a day after a drone strike in Lebanon killed the militant organisation’s second most senior official.David Barnea said on Wednesday the Mossad was “committed to settling th...

Arouri had talked with Hezbollah of ‘real victory’ over Israel after 7 October attacksThe killing of Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut is the first strike in a campaign of assassinations overseas promised by Israeli officials for several months.The target was carefully chosen – one of the most senior Hamas leaders and the organisation’s main link to Iran and the Lebanon-based militia Hezbollah. Arouri was also...