Israel has launched strikes in Lebanon after a rocket attack in an Israeli-controlled town killed 12 people. The attack was blamed on Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group, although they denied responsibility.
The strikes targeted areas near the border, Tyre port, and the Bekaa Valley. PM Benjamin Netanyahu returned from the US to discuss a potential escalation with senior government ministers.
The conflict may involve tensions with Gaza and Hamas. Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in low-level hostilities.
Israel's top army generals are at odds with Netanyahu over the conflict, with the generals believing that eradicating Hamas and Hezbollah is unrealistic and not wanting to escalate the conflict further. The security cabinet authorised Netanyahu to decide the response to the rocket attack.
The US has urged Israel to show restraint in its response. Several international airlines have suspended flights to Beirut due to the tensions.
Meanwhile, the US is leading diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, urging Israel to avoid targeting densely populated areas and key infrastructure in Lebanon. Israel has expressed its desire to harm Hezbollah without dragging the region into an all-out war.
