Israel-Hezbollah latest: Just look

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he had spoken to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia and highlighted the need for de-escalation.

"It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages," Modi posted on X.

Israel's military killed the leader of Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Saturday as it ramped up attacks on militant targets in Lebanon.

"India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability," Modi said on Monday

The United States on Monday will announce nearly $336 million (£251 million) in additional humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a US Agency for International Development statement seen by Reuters.

The funding, first reported by Reuters, will enable USAID’s partners to continue to provide humanitarian aid, including food assistance, healthcare, nutrition and other services, according to the statement.

The funding will also support emergency shelter assistance to displaced Gazans ahead of winter, the statement said.

“Over the last year, this conflict has cost the lives of innocent Palestinians and Israelis and has left Gaza and the West Bank in a state of humanitarian crisis and dire humanitarian need,” the statement said.

“The United States continues to call on all parties to agree to a ceasefire deal and an immediate release of hostages, and to allow for the immediate scale-up of humanitarian aid moving into and throughout Gaza.”

The war began last 7 October when Hamas gunmen stormed Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israel‘s military has leveled swaths of the besieged Palestinian enclave, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing more than 41,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

A Lebanese soldier was killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a motor-bike while passing through an army check point in southern Lebanon’s Wazzani area, the country’s army said on Monday.

Could an airlift be organised by the UK?

In theory, although the UK government has not raised that possibility. But it is possible that evacuation aircraft may be sent in by the UK as other countries have done.

Germany has sent an Airbus A321 to repatriate citizens to Berlin, while the Bulgarian government has dispatched a smaller A319 jet for an emergency flight from Beirut to Sofia. Jordan’s government sent a military transport plane.

"Were the UK to launch such an operation, it would most likely be a shuttle between Larnaca in Cyprus and Beirut. The two airports are only 129 miles apart, representing a total flight time of around half-an-hour.

"It is possible one of the government jets could be used, or instead a military transport airport deployed."

Can people leave by land or sea?

The FCDO “advises against leaving Lebanon through land border crossings”.

The border with Israel is closed. The border with Syria is open, but the Foreign Office advises “against all travel to Syria due to the ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions”.

Some travellers may decide to risk the journey to Damascus, because the airport in the Syrian capital is running normally – with flights to Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah (adjoining Dubai) probably the best bet, due to easier connections to the UK.

But some British nationals are travelling to the northern border of Lebanon, taking a taxi for around 100 miles through Syria to Turkey and flying back from Antakya airport via Istanbul.

The obvious destination for the evacuation by sea of British citizens would be Cyprus.

At their closest the two countries are 100 miles apart. But the distance from the key port of Tripoli in Lebanon and Limassol in Cyprus is about 160 miles, representing typically seven hours’ sailing.

Ferries formerly ran between Tripoli and the Turkish port of Mersin, but no longer operate.

The Lebanese government is ready to fully implement a United Nations resolution that had aimed to end Hezbollah‘s armed presence south of the Litani River as part of an agreement to stop war with Israel, caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati has said.

Mikati said Lebanon was ready to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and deploy the army south of the river, which lies about 30 km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon’s southern border.

Mikati also said he and House Speaker Nabih Berri had agreed that electing a new president to end a near two-year vacancy at the top post would only happen after a ceasefire took hold, in comments delivered after the pair met in Beirut.