Summary
More air strikes have been reported in southern Beirut and Lebanon, as Israel tells more than 30 villages in the south to evacuate
A major road out of Lebanon was hit overnight - pictures show a large crater near the border crossing into Syria, where thousands of people have been fleeing. Israel says the route was being used to transport weapons
Rockets continue to be fired into Israel from Lebanon - watch the moment our correspondent runs for cover after hearing gunfire and explosions
Lebanon's health ministry said earlier 37 people have been killed in Israeli ground and air attacks in the past 24 hours; more than 2,000 people have now been killed since last October
In Iran, the supreme leader defended his country's missile attack on Israel earlier this week as a "minimum punishment" in a rare public speech
Live Reporting
Edited by Emily McGarvey, with Nafiseh Kohnavard, Orla Guerin, Carine Torbey and Hugo Bachega reporting from Lebanon
All 900 shelters for displaced people in Lebanon full - UNpublished at 23:02 British Summer Time 4 October
23:02 BST 4 October
Image source, ReutersWe're pausing our live coverage for now, and we'll be continuing it tomorrow morning.
For now, here are the latest developments:
- The Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee said 11 paramedics have been killed by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon today
- All 900 shelters for displaced people in Lebanon are now full, according to the United Nations
- Israel said that by Friday afternoon, Hezbollah had fired over 100 rockets into its territory
- Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a rare public appearance, where he said the country's attack on Israel earlier this week was the "minimum punishment" for Israel
- US President Joe Biden said Israel isn't going to decide "immediately" on how to respond to the Iran attack, and suggested Israel should not hit Iran's oil facilities in retaliation
- US forces carried out air strikes on 15 targets in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels on Friday, the military said
- The IDF said that 250 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since its ground incursion started four days ago
Nine injured after hospital in southern Lebanon 'attacked'published at 22:40 British Summer Time 4 October
22:40 BST 4 October
The Salah Ghandour hospital in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, has been attacked by Israel following a warning to evacuate, according to a statement from the hospital on social media.
The statement says nine members of the hospital's medical and nursing staff were injured, while most others were evacuated following a "warning" to do so.
It comes Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the grounds of the hospital were "subject to Israeli artillery shelling".
In pictures: Lebanese people flee on foot after key road destroyedpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 4 October
22:14 BST 4 October
As we've been reporting, an Israeli air strike has hit near the main border crossing point for people fleeing the escalating bombing and ground campaign in Lebanon for neighbouring Syria.
Israel's military said it hit Hezbollah targets near the Masnaa crossing, and earlier claimed the group was using it to smuggle weapons into Lebanon.
Image source, ReutersThe strike destroyed a section of the road and effectively cut off vehicle access.
People are still making the journey on foot, with pictures showing families clambering over rubble and scrambling through the four-metre crater in the road to get out.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage source, Getty ImagesAid group says 30% of Lebanese population displacedpublished at 21:54 British Summer Time 4 October
21:54 BST 4 October
A US charity operating in Lebanon, which has a population of around 5.8 million, says 30% of the country is now displaced, with growing concerns over a lack of basic supplies.
Samar El Yassir, country director, of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) tells the BBC that "we are in a big humanitarian crisis".
She says that Lebanon - already suffering from an economic crisis - is "unprepared" for a crisis of this scale, and that strikes have hit key suppliers, including a mattress factory.
She lists medicine, food, clothing and hygiene items as some of the supplies they need as many fled their homes with "only the clothes they had on them".
UK charters flight to leave Lebanon on Sundaypublished at 21:40 British Summer Time 4 October
21:40 BST 4 October
Another flight has been chartered by the UK government to leave Beirut on Sunday, the Foreign Office says.
The UK government is urging any British nationals who are still in Lebanon and want to leave to "register immediately". More than 250 Britons have left on chartered flights so far, it adds.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy says: “With demand falling, and the security situation deteriorating, there is no guarantee other options to leave quickly will become available.
"I urge anyone who wants to leave to register now."
Eleven paramedics killed in Lebanon, says Hezbollah-affiliated health committeepublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 4 October
21:26 BST 4 October
The Islamic Health Committee, an emergency response organisation affiliated with Hezbollah, says 11 paramedics have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon today.
In a statement on Telegram, it says seven paramedics died at the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, and four others were killed in two separate attacks.
Israel's military has said that it has has struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the Beirut area over the past day, and says it took measures to "to reduce harm to those not involved".
Things are precarious for the Middle East and beyondpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time 4 October
20:40 BST 4 October
Frank Gardner
Security correspondentThe Middle East is once again on the brink of a much wider and more damaging conflict than those fires already blazing in Lebanon, Gaza and elsewhere.
Much now depends on how Israel intends to follow through on its well-publicised promise to "make Iran pay a heavy price" for its recent volley of ballistic missiles.
If Israel does hit back hard at Iran – and many are asking it not to – then the Islamic Republic has vowed to retaliate in turn, not just against Israel but also against those countries it sees as supporting it.
That could put US and British military bases at risk of attack, in the Gulf or even in Cyprus, which Iran’s long-range Ghadr-1 missiles can reach.
With hopes dimming of any imminent ceasefire in either Gaza or Lebanon, Israel appears determined to take on all enemies at once, with qualified backing from the US and Britain. Militarily, it is stronger than any of its adversaries, but wars started rarely end quickly.
Nearly one year on from Hamas’s 7 October attacks, Israeli forces are still in Gaza. Israel’s occupation of Lebanon lasted 18 years.
And a prolonged and direct conflict with Iran could have any number of unknown consequences for the region, and for the wider world.
In southern Lebanon, many fear the war is only beginningpublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 4 October
20:17 BST 4 October
Orla Guerin
Senior International Correspondent, in Tyre in southern LebanonImage source, Goktay Koraltan / BBCA security advisor, working with the international media here inTyre, believes that Israeli forces are dropping 1,000lb (453 kg)bombs because ofthe size of the explosions.
From time to time Hezbollah rockets streak across the sky, asvolleys are fired towards Israeli positions. We have seen missiles beingintercepted in the distance, across the border in Israel.
For those who remain here in the city, there is uncertainty andfear. Many fear this war is only beginning.
Prices for basic necessities havetripled because few shops are open, and supplies are short.
Israel has released video footage of its troops on Lebanesesoil, going house to house, conducting searches in the village of Kfarkela inSouthern Lebanon. But the invaders may face ahard fight here, as happened in the past.
The sounds of war reverbate through Tyrepublished at 20:07 British Summer Time 4 October
20:07 BST 4 October
Orla Guerin
Senior International Correspondent, in TyreIn the Southern city of Tyre, the war has been coming closer too – we can see it, and we can hear it.
An Israeli drone has been circling over our hotel for hours and is still there now – low enough to be clearly audible.
Every so often, the sound of explosions reverberates through the building. They are distant, but powerful enough to rattle the windows and doors.
The hills directly in front of us, close to the border with Israel, have been pounded with massive strikes – far louder than those we have been hearing in recent days.
We have seen huge clouds of light-coloured smoke. At one stage there were five smoke clouds rising at the same time - from three major strikes on the top of ridgeline, and two smaller ones below.
US strikes 15 Houthi targets in Yemen, says militarypublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 4 October
19:44 BST 4 OctoberBreaking
US forces carried out strikes on 15 targets on Friday in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels, the military says.
"US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen today," the military command responsible for US forces in the Middle East said on social media.
Biden says Israel is not going to decide how to respond to Iran strikes 'immediately'published at 19:40 British Summer Time 4 October
19:40 BST 4 October
Image source, Bloomberg via Getty ImagesUS President Joe Biden says he would think about "other alternatives" to "striking" Iranianoil fields if he were in Israel's shoes.
Asked about what the Israeli government has said after Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on Tuesday night, Biden tells reporters in a White House briefing that they haven't decided yet how they would respond.
"I'm assuming when they make their assessment, how they're going to respond, we will then have a discussion," Biden says.
He adds Israel is "not going to make a decision immediately," Biden says.
UK not involved in Yemen airstrikes - MODpublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 4 October
19:26 BST 4 October
After earlier reports that the UK took part in airstrikes launched at several rebel-run parts of Yemen on Friday, the UK's Ministry of Defence now tells the BBC that it was not involved in those airstrikes.
The US strikes reportedly hit multiple Houthi-linked sites, which included Yemen's capital Sanaa.
Houthi targets in Yemen have been struck by the US and Britain since January in response to attacks by rebels on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, sinking two vessels, seizing another and causing the deaths of at least four crew members.
They say they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have claimed - often falsely - that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
On Tuesday, two vessels were damaged after being hit by missiles and a sea drone off the port of Hodeidah.
Possible new escalation in Yemen after US strike on Houthi targetspublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 4 October
19:06 BST 4 October
Sebastian Usher
BBC NewsThe US strike on Houthi targets in Yemen is the latest military action by the US against the group.
It comes after the Houthis claimed to have shot down a US military drone flying over Yemen earlier this week.
Media loyal to the Houthis say that Sanaa was among the cities to have been hit.
The Yemeni capital has had a respite from bombing in the past two years since fighting between the warring parties in Yemen largely subsided.
The fact that Houthi positions have been targeted there suggests a possible new escalation in US-led operations against the Iranian-backed group, which has in the past year carried out many attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and fired several missiles at Israel in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
US strikes Houthi targets in Yemenpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 4 October
18:41 BST 4 October
US military strikes hit over a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, a US official confirms to the BBC's US partner CBS.
We'll bring you more on this shortly.
'The shelter system is set to collapse if there's no peace'published at 18:21 British Summer Time 4 October
18:21 BST 4 October
Image source, ReutersOxfam says its assessments of shelters across Lebanon reveal people need mattresses, bedding, cooking and sanitation items.
The international non-governmental organisation also says women need sanitary pads, towels, and underwear.
"People are being forced to flee with little to no notice, often having to leave everything behind, to shelters that are inadequate or sharing crowded homes with few essential supplies," says Oxfam's Lebanon country director.
Bachir Ayoub adds that without a ceasefire, the number of people in need "will only grow, as will their needs".
"The shelter system is set to collapse if there is no peace on the horizon."
How might further military casualties impact support for Israel's army?published at 17:32 British Summer Time 4 October
17:32 BST 4 October
Nick Beake
Reporting from northern IsraelIsrael knew that launching a ground invasion into territory Hezbollah knows so well would lead to IDF casualties.
The first deaths came on Wednesday when eight elite soldiers were killed.
The latest two soldiers, whose deaths were announced a short while earlier, were not killed in Lebanon, but over the border in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Their position was targeted by two drones that had been fired from Iraq, which itself reflects the various fronts of this conflict.
A conflict that’s expanding and intensifying.
Israel says it faces threats – and attacks - from many directions, that no other country would tolerate and so needs to fight back.
Critics say Israel, in its actions, is bringing the Middle East to the brink of a devastating wider war.
The military service Israelis undertake, and the reservist duties they later assume, mean the vast majority of the population has a strong bond to the army.
Families we’ve spoken to here since the Lebanon invasion began told us they understood some troops would die.
But if the number of Israeli casualties were to rise considerably in the coming days and the currently high level of public support may well drop.
There again, it could only serve to strengthen resolve.
Israel warns rescue workers against going to strike-hit areas - Lebanon Civil Defencepublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 4 October
16:55 BST 4 October
Rami Ruhayem
BBC ArabicIsraelhas threatened to strike Lebanese search and rescue teams if they go to thesouthern suburbs of Beirut to help those trapped under the rubble, according toLebanon’s Civil Defence.
FollowingIsrael’s massive strike on a residential neighbourhood in Dahieh overnight, theCivil Defence – administered by the Ministry of Interior - received a callsaying any teams heading to the area within 72 hours of the attack will bestruck, they told the BBC.
Lebanon’snational news agency said the Prime Minister Najib Mikati has made severalcalls to foreign officials asking them to pressure Israel to allow search andrescue teams to do their work.
Israelhas hit rescue teams and health workers across south Lebanon and inBeirut, killing and wounding dozens. Yesterday the Lebanese minister of health said Israel had killed 97 health and search and rescue workers so far and injured188.
Themajority of those killed are from the Islamic Health Organisation - linked toHezbollah - which has been offering health services to the displaced andconducting search-and-rescue operations.
Teamsfrom the Lebanese Red Cross, the Lebanese Civil Defence, the Islamic RisalaScout Association, and the Amel Association international, have also beenstruck by Israel, according to the Lebanese minister.
The BBC has asked the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.
Lebanese residents cross Syrian border despite Israeli strikepublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 4 October
16:41 BST 4 October
As we've been reporting, a key road between the Lebanese-Syrian border has been hit by an Israeli air strike.
Despite the crater and the rubble, displaced Lebanese residents have continued to make the crossing into Syria with their belongings.
Image source, ReutersImage source, ReutersImage source, REX/ShutterstockIsrael evacuation order tells people to head north of Awali riverpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 4 October
16:20 BST 4 October
The Israeli military has issued further evacuation orders today for people in southern Lebanon to move north of the Awali river, which can be seen in the map below.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says anyone near "Hezbollah elements, installations, and combat equipment is putting his life at risk," adding that travelling south may put civilians in further danger.
Image source, .The 48km (29 mile) river originates in the Barouk mountain, flowing into Joun Lake.
IDF ground operations are continuing close to the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Two more Israeli soldiers killed in combat, according to the IDFpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 4 October
15:47 BST 4 October
A further two Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says.
It says a further two have been injured and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Prior to this, Israel’s military said eight of its soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon since the launch of their ground incursion on Monday.
