Middle East crisis live: Israel ‘will do whatever it takes to avoid 7 October-style attack’ as it launches Lebanon ground raids

Military spokesperson accuses Hezbollah of preparing to use villages as staging posts to invade Israel and ‘massacre innocent men, women and children’

• See all our coverage from the Middle East
• Living in Lebanon: how have you been affected?

In the warning issued by Israel’s Arabic language military spokesperson, Lebanese residents have been cautioned against moving their vehicles while what Avichay Adraee described as “heavy fighting” was taking place.

It says:

Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks. For your personal safety, we ask you not to move vehicles from the northern region to the southern region of the Litani River. This warning is in effect until further notice.

Continue reading...