We’ve just heard from military analyst Sean Bell discussing Israel’s campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which he describes as a “divergence” from the operation in Iran.

“Israel has sort of outsourced the striking of Iran’s nuclear capability to America, and what’s increasingly evident is there are now two objectives, one of which – Israel’s – now seems very different from America’s.”

He says Israel’s plan to rid its northern neighbour of all Hezbollah’s influence will likely be “very dangerous” and could require the government to mobilise more troops.

“But the key point here is that it’s going to take quite a lot of time,” he says.

“And at the moment, it doesn’t feel like that time element is coherent with what President Trump’s trying to achieve. 

“So I do think there’s a divergence here at the moment. And it may well be that America looks to exit pretty quickly. But Israel is not stopping their campaign any time soon.”

Israel’s attacks on Iran ‘will escalate and expand’ defence minister says

Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said there would be “heavy and increasing prices” for targeting Israeli civilians.

Katz said strikes on Iran will escalate and expand to “targets and domains” that assist Iran in building and operating weapons against Israeli civilians.

He said: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have warned the Iranian terrorist regime to stop firing missiles at the civilian population in Israel. 

“Despite the warnings, the firing continues, and therefore IDF attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens. 

“They will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.”