Image source, Reuters

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) has provided some details about what it called a “large-scale air aggression” by Israel this morning.

According to a correspondent in the southern town of Nabatieh, Israeli aircraft targeted Chqif Castle, the outskirts of the town of Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Louaizeh, Bsalia, and Kfar Melki.

They also reportedly targeted the Bir Kalb area as well as the outskirts of the towns of Sajd, Kfar Fila, and Sarba.

Israel says it has conducted pre-emptive strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after it detected the Lebanon-based militant group's plans to launch an extensive attack. Hezbollah says it fired more than 320 rockets towards Israel targeting 11 military sites in the northern part of the country.

One person was killed after an Israeli strike hit a car in the southern Lebanon town of Khiam, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

In an update, the ministry says "a series of Israeli raids this morning" on towns in southern Lebanon have also resulted in the injury of two people - a Lebanese man and a Syrian man.

They are both being treated for their injuries, the ministry added.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been speaking at the start of an emergency national security cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.

"We are determined to do everything to protect our country, return the residents of the north safely to their homes and continue to uphold a simple rule: whoever harms us - we harm them," he said.

Netanyahu said the Israeli military had acted "proactively to remove the threat" after detecting preparations by Hezbollah to attack Israel.

“The IDF has since been working intensively to thwart the threats,” he said.

“It destroyed thousands of rockets aimed at the north of the country; it’s also thwarting many other threats and is operating with great power — both in defence and on the attack.”

Israel says it "does not seek an all-out war" in the region, according to Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

In a statement shared on X, Israel's foreign ministry says the country is "acting to protect its citizens and territory" against what it calls an "axis of evil" led by Iran.

The statement goes on to say that Israel will "act according to developments on the ground".

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

The Israeli military has released footage of its strikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon.

It said about 100 fighter jets had "struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels".

Most of the launchers were aimed at northern Israel, but some at the centre of the country, according to the IDF.

It said more than 40 launch areas in Lebanon were hit in the strikes.

An exchange of rocket fire has been seen at Israel's border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah says it has fired more than 320 rockets towards Israel at the start of what it calls a "large-scale" operation.

The group says it is targeting 11 military sites in the northern part of the country, using drones and Katyusha rockets.

Israel's military says it has conducted pre-emptive air strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting plans to launch a significant attack.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a 48-hour state of emergency across Israel.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

As we reported earlier, US President Joe Biden has directed officials to be in close communication with Israel over the unfolding events.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has spoken to his US counterpart Lloyd Austin, telling him Israel had "conducted precise strikes in Lebanon in order to thwart an imminent threat" against its citizens.

The two officials discussed the importance of avoiding a regional escalation, according to a statement from Israel's ministry of defence.

But it added that Gallant also emphasised that Israel would "use all the means at its disposal to remove imminent threats" and was "prepared to deploy defensive and offensive means".

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, has written to dozens of foreign ministers urging support for Israel against Hezbollah, Iran, and its proxies.

He said Israel was acting in self-defence and was not interested in an all-out war.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari says Israel has "identified extensive preparation" by Hezbollah to "fire toward" Israel which it says was going to be aimed at its citizens.

"We are removing threats against the Israeli home front," Hagari says adding that dozens of military jets are currently "striking targets in various locations in southern Lebanon".

He adds: "We are continuing to remove threats, and to intensively strike against the Hezbollah terrorist organization."

Image source, Getty Images

If you're just joining us let's get you up to date with what we know:

• Israel Defense Force (IDF) says it has launched strikes inside Lebanon in what it is describing as a pre-emptive move after saying Hezbollah was preparing to fire rockets towards Israel
• Hezbollah confirmed it has started "phase one" of an attack on Israel, beginning with a wave of hundreds of rockets and drones in response to the killing of its top commander Fuad Shukr on 30 July
• Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has declared a state of emergency for the next 48 hours - this means restrictions can be issued on civilian movement
• Elsewhere, flights to and from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily suspended earlier on Sunday morning but have since been reinstated

• The US has doubled down on its support for Israel, with the Pentagon and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Israel’s defence

Jon Donnison
Reporting from Jerusalem

This appears to be a significant and ongoing escalation.

Overnight Israel’s military says it carried out strikes in southern Lebanon.

It said it was targeting what it called the Hezbollah terror organisation preparing to fire missiles and rockets across the border.

The New York Times is reporting this included an attack on Tel Aviv.

In a statement Hezbollah said it had begun its response to the Israeli assassination of a senior commander Fuad Shukr last month.

Israel’s military has warned there will likely be more Hezbollah attacks in the coming hours and air raid sirens have been sounding across the north.

Israel’s security cabinet is meeting this morning. For weeks now, diplomats have been working to try to avoid the crisis in Gaza escalating into a wider regional war.

The United States has warned the ongoing failure to agree a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas could see those diplomatic efforts fail.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Jerusalem

Hezbollah says it has fired more than 320 rockets towards Israel this morning.

In a statement, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group says it targeted 11 military sites in northern Israel with hundreds of Katyusha rockets.

It said the "first phase" of its attack against Israel is complete.

"It is the phase of targeting Israeli barracks and sites", the group says - adding it will release further details later.

Let's bring you some reaction to the events unfolding in Lebanon.

US President Joe Biden is directing officials to maintain close communication with Israel, and will "keep supporting Israel's right to defend itself", according to a national security spokesman.

The Pentagon also says the US is "postured to support" a defence of Israel.

Image source, EPA

Passenger departures and arrivals are set to resume at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.

For a time over the last few hours all flights in and out of the airport were cancelled or diverted due to the activity.

But the Israel Airports Authority now says Ben Gurion is back "working as planned - including departures and landings".

Hezbollah has confirmed it began its attack on Sunday with a wave of rockets and drones, in response to the killing of its top commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.

The Lebanon-based group said it targeted an identified "special military target as well as Israel's Iron Dome platforms and other sites but that the full response would take some time".

It warns Israel a number of "enemy sites and barracks" will be targeted, adding that the group will "stand strongly against Zionist transgression or aggression" if civilians are harmed.

"Punishment will be very severe and harsh," it says.

Let's bring you some comments from Israel's military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

He says Israeli warplanes are hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to fire missiles and rockets into Israel.

"In a self-defence act to remove these threats, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is striking terror targets," he says.

Israel says Lebanese civilians have been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah is operating.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Good morning, you join us as the Israeli military says it is striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to fire missiles into Israel.

Sirens are sounding in northern Israel and all passenger flights to and from Tel Aviv’s main international airport have been cancelled or diverted.

Israel has declared a state of emergency for 48 hours for the country as a precaution.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments from the Middle East.