Russia asks Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, warns of escalation

Israel said the incursion would be focused on the narrow strip of land just across the border. But it also issued evacuation warnings covering a wider swath of Lebanon, raising fears that a large-scale ground invasion was soon to come.

In recent days, a wave of Israeli airstrikes has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and several of his top commanders, while driving hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes. Israel says a ground operation is now necessary to return tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to their homes in the north, pummelled by continuous rocket fire from Hezbollah since October 8.

Why did Iran launch missiles toward Israel?

Israel's military said it identified 180 missiles launched from Iran shortly after 7:30 pm. Sirens blared across the country, and Israelis were ordered to stay in protected areas. An Israeli security official said that in cooperation with the US, the Israeli Air Force intercepted many of the missiles, though there some direct hits damaging buildings and igniting some fires.