Sir Keir Starmer has once again called for any British nationals in Lebanon to leave the country.
More than 150 Britons left Beirut on the first government-chartered flight on Wednesday, with another plane landing in Birmingham yesterday.
It’s not clear how long Beirut’s airport can remain open, with some Israeli strikes yesterday hitting nearby areas, according to a witness for Reuters news agency.
“I repeat importantly to UK nationals in Lebanon that now is the time to leave, now is the time to take up that evacuation plan,” he said within the past half an hour.
“That is a really important message… to everybody listening who may be in that position.
“Now is the time to leave, we have got the plans in place. So, please come forward and we can make sure that they are evacuated.”
He also repeated the “most important” thing in the Middle East was the need for de-escalation.
“I am concerned that this is on the brink and I am concerned that we do everything we can do to de-escalate the situation, and that has been the constant message from this government,” he added.
Sirens sound in southern Israel for first time in two months, says military
Sirens have sounded in southern Israel for the first time in two months, the Israeli military has said.
“Almost a year after October 7, Hamas is still threatening our civilians with their terrorism, and we will continue operating against them,” the army said in a post on X.
The areas where the sirens sounded, Ein HaShlosha and Kissufim, are both located near the Gaza border.
Israel claims strike on crossing targeted underground tunnel for weapons transfers
Israel has claimed its airstrike on the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria targeted an underground tunnel.
A key route out of Lebanon, the Masnaa crossing has been used by more than 300,000 people over the past 10 days to escape Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese government statistics.
But Israel claims the crossing has a 3.5km-long underground tunnel used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons.
“Fighter jets attacked yesterday with the precise intelligence direction of the Intelligence Division an underground tunnel… which is used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons and store them in an underground route,” the military said in a statement.
“In the attack, military buildings, weapons warehouses and other terrorist infrastructure were destroyed.”
The military added they would “continue to attack and destroy any infrastructure for smuggling arms and weapons” used to “strengthen the organisation against the security of the citizens of the state of Israel”.
More than 41,802 Palestinian killed in Gaza by Israel – Hamas-run health ministry says
More than 41,802 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, according to the enclave’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Another 96,844 have been injured in Israel’s military offensive, the ministry added.
The figures reported by the ministry do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.
Of those that have been identified, however, the majority are women, children or elderly people.
Explosion heard in southern Beirut
An explosion has been heard in Beirut by our team, with smoke seen rising in the southern parts of the Lebanese capital.
The southern suburbs have been the focus of Israeli airstrikes since attacks began last month.
The suburb of Dahieh – a Hezbollah stronghold – was struck by Israel late last night, after security sources said Israel ordered evacuations from certain areas.
Lebanese hospital temporarily out of service after nearby Israeli airstrike, director says
A hospital in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun says it has temporarily evacuated after an Israeli strike nearly hit the building.
That’s according to Reuters, which reports it has spoken to the facility’s director, Mounes Klakesh.
He told the news agency the strike landed around five metres from the entrance of the main hospital.
“No one was wounded from the medical staff, but we have decided to evacuate temporarily until the security situation becomes clearer,” he added.
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