Israel conducted airstrikes on Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict in the Middle East, resulting in the reported death of a senior Hezbollah member. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hezbollah locations following missile attacks by the Tehran-backed group on northern Israel, while Iran continued its assaults on Israel and Arab states after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei.

The airstrikes led to casualties, with nine people killed in Beit Shemesh, Israel, due to an Iranian missile strike, and 31 reported deaths in Lebanon, mostly in the southern part of the country. Additionally, 149 individuals were injured in the attacks. Subsequently, thousands of residents evacuated southern towns and cities, and there were unconfirmed reports of Mohammad Raad, a Hezbollah parliamentary leader, being killed during the strikes.

The IDF claimed to have targeted key Hezbollah figures in Beirut and southern Lebanon without disclosing specific names. Iranian officials stated that over 200 individuals have died since the beginning of the conflict, including senior leaders of Iran. In a separate incident, a suspected drone strike hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), with no casualties reported.

The British government is preparing for a large-scale evacuation of British nationals in the Middle East, as concerns rise over their safety in the Gulf region. British citizens in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE have been advised to register with the Foreign Office online for assistance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that US warplanes would have access to RAF bases for striking Iranian missile sites, emphasizing that the UK was not involved in previous US actions in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed the UK’s reluctance to support the initial US attack on Iran but emphasized the importance of defensive actions to protect British citizens in the region.