We'll be ending our live coverage of the fallout from the killing of senior Hamas leaders in Beirut last night shortly. Here's a quick round-up of the day's events:

Lebanon

The leader of the powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has vowed to respond to the deaths of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri and others. Israel has not officially claimed responsibility.

In a televised speech, he also warned Israel it would pay a "heavy price" if it attacked Lebanon, saying Hezbollah would fight "without rules".

Missile attacks and artillery fire have been exchanged along the Israel-Lebanon border for months, but so far there is no sign of the further escalation the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon warned was a growing risk in the region.

Gaza

Away from Israel's northern border, in Gaza the fighting rages on. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 22,313 people have been killed there.

Israel says its troops have killed "dozens of terrorists" in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, and targeted others in Gaza City.

Red Sea

Further south, Houthi attacks from Yemen on shipping continue. The US government says missiles were fired at a French container ship, although no damage was reported.

A group of 12 countries have condemned the attacks in the vital sea lane, which connects markets in Europe with Asia through the Suez Canal.

The Red Sea is also a key shipping lane for oil and gas from the Gulf. Analysts and businesses are warning prices will rise as ships re-route around the Horn of Africa.

Wyre Davies
Reporting from the West Bank

In the small West Bank village of Arura, hundreds of mourners had gathered since early this morning to mark the death of their most celebrated son. There would probably have been many more - men at a large hall in the lower part of the town and women up at the family home. But Israeli military roadblocks cut the village off temporarily from the much larger town of Ramallah.

Saleh al-Arouri was raised and educated here, going on to become a senior Hamas leader and the founder of its military wing.

Israel has not publicly acknowledged carrying out the drone missile strike that killed him and five other Hamas members in a Beirut suburb in retaliation for the 7 October attacks from Gaza. But none of the mourners were in any doubt over who was responsible.

His sister, Fatima al-Arouri, said it was a decision Israel would come to regret.

“His death will be a trigger, not just here in the West Bank but across the whole world,“ said Fatima. “The assassination will be felt across the region because he was not just ‘anyone’. They [Israel] have brought catastrophe upon themselves from all sides”

Israel and its allies regarded Arouri as a ruthless terrorist, responsible for organising many of Hamas’ deadliest operations.

It was a description rejected by Arouri’s uncle, Mustafa, as he welcomed the steady stream of male relatives, friends and civic leaders who came to pay their respects.

“Israel holds itself up as a democratic state but, with what is happening now in Gaza, it has shown its real face to the world,” the uncle told me. “It is a criminal state, they want all Palestinians out but we will never be removed from history.”

Image source, Getty Images

Away from Lebanon, some of Israel's allies have denounced a series of recent comments by Israeli cabinet ministers calling for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the hard-right Religious Zionism party, has called for almost the entire Palestinian population of Gaza to leave the strip through "emigration", making way for Israeli settlers.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, echoed his thoughts by claiming Israel should be "encouraging the residents of Gaza to emigrate".

The official Israeli government stance is that Gazans will be able to return to their homes after the war.

In response, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the pair were "slandering the Palestinian population".

"Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of [international humanitarian law] and words matter," the diplomat writes on social media.

Earlier a US official described the statements as "inflammatory and irresponsible".

State department spokesman Matthew Miller said: "Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel."

Ben-Gvir hit back at the US, saying: "Really appreciate the United States of America but with all due respect we are not another star on the American flag."

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron is calling for more to be done to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"Israel must allow significantly more supplies in to reduce the risk of hunger and disease," he adds in a post on X, external.

Cameron says the UK "also wants to see the immediate release of hostages and progress towards a sustainable ceasefire", adding that he spoke to his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz today about how to work together on these issues.

Image source, EPA

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings , externallater this month in proceedings launched by South Africa against Israel over the Gaza war.

South Africa's application, external, submitted to The Hague on Friday, stated that the "acts and omissions by Israel" are "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group".

Yesterday, a spokesperson for Israel's government said it would appear before the court to contest the "absurd blood libel".

On Wednesday, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the case "meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever".

The hearings will take place on 11 and 12 January. The court usually takes up to a fortnight to issue a decision on emergency measures after the hearings.

Its rulings are final but it has no authority to enforce them.

The ICJ settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues. It is distinct from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which ​investigates and tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israel does not recognise the ICC.

Image source, Reuters

The US government says it remains incredibly concerned about the risk of the conflict in Gaza spreading to the wider region after the killing of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut on Tuesday.

Speaking during a regular press briefing, state department spokesman Matthew Miller says he cannot offer an assessment on who carried out the killing, adding that Washington was not given advance notice of the strike.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

Miller also says that suggestions that the US was involved in the explosions in Iran today are "ridiculous". He adds there is no reason to believe Israel was behind the blast.

Earlier on Wednesday, two explosions killed more than 100 people at a ceremony in Iran earlier to commemorate top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone in 2020.

Iranian officials blamed unspecified "terrorists".

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, Beirut

Image source, EPA

Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in October, Hezbollah - the powerful Lebanese Shia group - and the Israeli military have exchanged attacks almost every day but, so far, the violence has been largely contained to the border area.

Tuesday’s attack that killed the deputy chief of Hamas was the first to hit Beirut, striking the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. It was a blow to Hamas and probably a message to Hezbollah.

Israeli officials have warned the group against escalating the conflict, with some saying the army could do to Beirut what it has done to Gaza.

Many here still remember the devastation caused by the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Those memories and Lebanon’s severe economic crisis mean there is virtually no public support for any military confrontation.

Both Hezbollah and Hamas are part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, an alliance of factions across the region backed by Iran. Hezbollah is its main force, and seen by Israel as a much more formidable foe than Hamas. It has a vast arsenal of weapons that includes precision-guided missiles that can strike deep into Israeli territory, and tens of thousands of well-trained, battle-hardened fighters.

The Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is keen to show his group is supporting its ally Hamas in the war in Gaza. Up until now, however, he has calculated the actions to prevent a full-scale war with Israel. Miscalculation, however, is always a risk.

The UK has joined 11 other countries in a statement condemning Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

They are Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States.

The Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, said on X, external: "The UK will not hesitate to take necessary and proportionate action."

The statement from the Ministry of Defence, external details that the joint venture "recognises the consensus expressed by 44 countries around the world" on 19 December.

It adds: "Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilising."

The MoD also adds that the attacks are "a threat to the freedom of navigation" that serves world trade.

"These attacks threaten innocent lives from all over the world and constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action."

The statement goes on to explain that almost 15% of trade passes through the Red Sea, and that the call is "clear for the immediate end of these illegal attacks".

"The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways."

Analysis: Who are the Houthi rebels and why are they attacking Red Sea ships?published at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

18:54 GMT 3 January

BBC Sounds

Understanding what is happening in the Red Sea is important to exploring other fronts in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

• What is Iran's role in supporting Houthi rebels in Red Sea attacks?
• Why is the Red Sea so important to international trade and prosperity?
• Could the West take direct military action against the Houthis in Yemen?

On The Global Story podcast, James Reynolds and BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner discuss why the Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea, who backs them and what it means for the wider region.

Listen to the programme on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Reuters

We've been monitoring Hassan Nasrallah's televised speech, in which he offered his condolences to Hamas for what he called a "dangerous" killing of Saleh al-Arouri.

Here are some of the main points Nasrallah made:

• He said if there was an attempt to wage a war against Lebanon, the country's "battle will be boundless, without rules"
• Nasrallah claimed Hezbollah's "quick" action on 8 October and the cross-border shelling had prevented a broader bombing campaign by Israel of Lebanon
• He added that it was the first time something like this had happened since the 2006 Lebanon War
• Nasrallah also vowed there would be "no ceilings" to his group's fighting if Israel chose to launch a war on Lebanon and that Israel would "regret it"
• He praised Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement for their actions in targeting ships in the Red Sea
• He described al-Arouri as "a great leader" and said he was killed in an act of "blatant Israeli aggression"

Image source, Patricia Bullrich

Three people from Syria and Lebanon have been arrested in Argentina, suspected of planning what the government said was a "terrorist act" as the country hosts a major Jewish sporting event.

The Pan American Maccabi Games that brings together around 4,000 athletes from Israeli and Jewish backgrounds is currently taking place in Buenos Aires.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the authorities had been on high alert and had received intelligence from the United States and Israel on the potential threat from a "terrorist cell".

The three suspects had booked a hotel near the Israeli embassy and were awaiting the arrival of 35kg parcel from Yemen, Bullrich said.

Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America, the target of two major attacks in 1992 and 1994, which killed more than 100 people.

Read more here.

Hassan Nasrallah's speech has now finished, but towards the end he described yesterday's killing of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut as "dangerous".

He added: "It's the first time something like this has happened since 2006" - when there was war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Nasrallah addressed the Israeli defence minister saying he will "not be able to achieve their goals of the war".

"We are not afraid of war. Those who think of going to war with us will regret it. War with us will come at a very high cost."

He also added that if Israel wages war on Lebanon "there will be no ceilings, no rules" to Hezbollah's fighting.

Nasrallah finished his speech saying: "Yesterday's crime will not go unpunished."

Image source, Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Hostage Sahar Baruch, taken by Hamas from Israel during the 7 October attacks, was killed during a rescue attempt on 8 December by Israeli forces, the military has confirmed.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says: "At this point, it is not possible to determine the circumstances of Sahar's death, and it is not known whether he was murdered by Hamas or killed by our forces' fire."

It was confirmed last month that Baruch, 25, had been killed while being held captive in Gaza.

His family were notified of the new development today, the IDF says.

The Israeli military says it is "defending its borders" from a number of missiles launched from Lebanon, in response to a series cross-border attacks carried out by Hezbollah.

No injuries in Israel were reported, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says - adding that artillery has responded to the source of the attacks across the border.

Fighter jets also targeted what the IDF describes as "Hezbollah terror targets" in Lebanon including a military compound, infrastructure and a "terrorist squad".

Image source, Reuters

Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim organisation which is politically influential and in control of the most powerful armed force in Lebanon.

It was established in the early 1980s by the region's most dominant Shia power, Iran, to oppose Israel. At the time, Israel's forces had occupied southern Lebanon, during the country's civil war.

Hezbollah has participated in national elections since 1992 and has become a major political presence. Its armed wing has carried out deadly attacks on Israeli and US forces in Lebanon.

When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah took credit for pushing them out.

Since then, Hezbollah has maintained thousands of fighters and a huge missile arsenal in southern Lebanon. It continues to oppose Israel's presence in disputed border areas.

It is designated a terrorist organisation by Western states, Israel, Gulf Arab countries and the Arab League.

In 2006, a full-blown war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered when Hezbollah carried out a deadly cross-border raid.

Israeli troops invaded southern Lebanon to try to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah. However, it survived and has since increased its number of fighters and obtained new and better weapons.

The head of the International Chamber of Shipping has told the BBC that consumers were likely to see a rise in the price of goods within weeks because of the cost of re-routing vessels away from Red Sea.

Guy Platten says about 20% of the container fleet was being diverted around southern Africa to avoid the risk of attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen - who have been launching missile and drone attacks at vessels in the nearby Bab al-Mandab strait since mid-November.

He says the longer journey added up to 14 extra days to a ship's voyage and that shipping costs had already increased as a result.

The Iranian-backed Houthis are an ally of Hamas and claim they have been attacking "Israel-linked" ships in the vital shipping lane, which connects Europe to Asia and is a key route for oil and gas shipments from the Gulf.

In response, the US government has set up an international taskforce to protect Red Sea shipping, which has led to many anti-ship missiles being shot down and a thwarted hijacking attempt on a Danish vessel last week.

• What do Red Sea attacks mean for global trade?

Image source, .

Image source, AFP

Hassan Nasrallah has responded to yesterday's killing of the senior Hamas figure Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut yesterday, blaming Israel for the attack.

The Hezbollah leader says he offers condolences to Hamas and describes the killing as "flagrant Israeli aggression on Beirut's Dahiyeh [a suburb]".

Hezbollah has previously warned Israel against carrying out attacks in Lebanon, though Israel has not acknowledged involvement in al-Arouri's death.

Image source, Reuters

The leader of the armed group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has begun a speech in Lebanon.

Hezbollah is a key ally of both Iran and Hamas, as well as being the most powerful military in Lebanon. It is also classified as a terrorist organisation by many, including the US, UK, EU, the Arab League and several Arab nations.

Exchanges of fire between the Iranian-backed militia and Israel have been taking place for months across the border, in response to the war in Gaza.

Nasrallah's speech was previously scheduled for the fourth anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Solemani in a US air strike in Iraq. A memorial commemorating his death was hit by a "terrorist attack" earlier today, according to Iranian officials, leading to more than 100 deaths in southern Iran.

But following the killing of senior Hamas politician Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut yesterday, many are anticipating Nasrallah to respond to the attack in Beirut. He has previously said there would be a severe reaction to any Israeli killing on Lebanese soil.

You can read more about Hezbollah here and we'll keep you updated with any key lines from the speech.

Four flashpoints and a dangerous juncturepublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January

16:22 GMT 3 January

Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent

There are now four flashpoints in the Middle East that could each lead independently to a broader and even more deadly conflict in the region.

The most recent are the unexplained explosions in Iran that have led to the deaths of over 100 people today. It would make no sense for Israel to have done this, risking a new front when it already has its hands full. But as Iran hunts down the perpetrators it will inevitably raise tensions in the region.

Then there is Tuesday’s targeted assassination of the Hamas No.2 in Beirut, Saleh Al-Arouri.

Hamas is already at war with Israel but the question now is whether this provokes the powerful Lebanese militia Hezbollah to respond against Israel by stepping up its cross-border attacks.

Then there are the Houthis in Yemen, who show no sign of stopping their missile attacks on ships they believe are connected to Israel. This may well lead to a US-led military strike on their launch sites.

And finally there is Gaza, where Israel has vowed to continue its operations for months, while the EU’s top diplomat has said Israel’s military response to the 7 October attacks had “exceeded the limits of what can be understood as the right to defend itself” and that “a solution to the conflict needs to be imposed from the outside”.

Rocket alerts have sounded across Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

The alerts went off in five areas, external including Metzuba, Rosh Hanikra and Shlomi, a town that Israeli authorities said was hit with anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah on Tuesday.

Image source, ILRedAlert