Middle East crisis live: Israel’s defence minister hints at Lebanon ground invasion as Hezbollah deputy says group will fight on

Yoav Gallant tells border troops ‘we will use all our capabilities – including you’; Israel tells US ‘limited’ ground operation could be ‘imminent’, reports saySee all our coverage from the Middle EastLiving in Lebanon: how have you been affected?Here is the video clip of US president Joe Biden saying “a broader war in the Middle East had to be averted”. Despite diplomatic efforts the US, Egypt and Qatar have been unable to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza since the 2023 deal ended ten months ago on 30 November.Itay Blumental, who is military correspondent at Israel’s Channel 11, reports on social media that the UAV intercepted earlier by Israel’s military was targeted at infrastructure in the Karish gas field out at sea. Israel’s military has also issued a video which it says shows the interception. The Karish gas field belongs to Israel as part of a deal brokered with Lebanon over disputed waters in 2022. Continue reading...