The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as militant infrastructure, including weapons depots, launch sites and command centers, adding that around 1,000 fighters had been killed during the campaign.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 1,345 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded since the fighting began, including civilians and 53 healthcare workers. The ministry said the casualties included men, women and children, though Hezbollah has not publicly disclosed its own losses.

The conflict expanded to Lebanon on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel, which it said were in response to earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since carried out extensive airstrikes and initiated a ground offensive, significantly intensifying the conflict along its northern front.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah’s leadership, including chief Naim Qassem, would face severe consequences for continued attacks, particularly during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

He said Israeli forces aim to push Hezbollah fighters away from southern Lebanon, maintain security control over the Litani area and dismantle the group’s military capabilities.

The escalation has heightened concerns of a broader regional conflict, as cross-border exchanges continue and civilian casualties rise.

The Israeli military reported that multiple missiles were launched toward the country, triggering defensive responses. Emergency services said an unintercepted cluster missile caused damage to residential buildings and vehicles, while military radio reported shrapnel damage to a train station in Tel Aviv. No immediate casualties were reported.

The strikes are part of an escalating conflict that began more than a month ago following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran that have spread across the region.

Donald Trump reiterated warnings of intensified U.S. military action, stating that further strikes on Iranian infrastructure were imminent. His comments came amid ongoing exchanges between the two sides and rising concerns over the scope of the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said attacks on civilian infrastructure would not force Iran to concede, underscoring Tehran’s stance as hostilities continue.

The conflict has increasingly targeted economic and industrial assets, raising concerns over broader disruptions to global energy supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has become a focal point after Iran moved to restrict maritime traffic.

Diplomatic efforts to address the situation remain uncertain, with a planned vote at the United Nations Security Council on authorizing protective measures for shipping recently postponed.

Iran has warned of further retaliatory measures, while U.S. officials have indicated that military operations could intensify if a negotiated settlement is not reached.

The move, announced by Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, will redirect procurement spending toward domestic suppliers and allied countries, according to an Israeli defense spokeswoman.

Policy rift deepensIsrael said the decision was in response to several French actions, including recognition of a Palestinian state, exclusion of Israeli firms from defense exhibitions, and a ban on Israeli aircraft carrying munitions for operations against Iran from transiting French airspace.

“The French ban was imposed despite prior coordination,” the spokeswoman said, adding that Israel viewed the measures as harmful to bilateral defense cooperation.

France’s presidency said its position was consistent with its policy since the start of the conflict, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Paris for not allowing Israel-bound military flights to cross its airspace.

According to a French parliamentary report, Israel’s procurement from French defense firms totaled about $260 million between 2015 and 2024, primarily involving components rather than complete weapons systems.

France does not directly export arms to Israel but supplies parts used in broader defense production chains.

The decision signals a further deterioration in defense ties between the two countries as the regional conflict intensifies following a military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.

Israel’s defense ministry said it viewed the developments “with great severity,” warning of potential long-term impacts on strategic cooperation.

We’re going after the IRGC,” Netanyahu said during the visit, adding that Israel would pursue its leadership, installations and economic assets.

The missile strike on Arad injured at least 59 people, according to Israeli medics, while nearby Dimona widely believed to be near Israel’s nuclear research facilities also sustained significant damage from a direct hit.

Rescue teams were deployed to affected neighbourhoods, where buildings were partially destroyed and debris scattered across residential areas. Authorities described the incident as a mass casualty event.

Netanyahu urged residents to strictly follow instructions from Israel’s Home Front Command and seek shelter during air raid sirens, describing the current situation as one in which “the entire home front is a frontline.

”He said adherence to safety protocols was critical to preventing casualties during continued missile barrages.

Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have described recent strikes as marking a new operational phase in the conflict, as Iranian missiles penetrated Israeli air defences in areas previously considered highly protected.

The exchange of attacks comes amid a wider regional escalation involving Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah, and follows strikes on key sites in both countries as the conflict enters its fourth week.

The missile hit a hair salon in the town of Beit Awwa, southwest of Hebron, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency WAFA reported. Thirteen people were wounded, including one in serious condition.

The Israeli military said its initial assessment indicated the strike was caused by a cluster munition, a type of warhead that disperses multiple smaller bomblets over a wide area, increasing the risk to civilians.

Iran has launched daily missile attacks toward Israel since the conflict escalated at the end of February, though there have been no prior reports of it deliberately targeting Palestinian areas in the West Bank.

Unlike most Israeli cities, where bomb shelters are widely available, Palestinians in the West Bank have limited access to protective infrastructure. Many rely on sirens from nearby Israeli settlements or cities for warning of incoming attacks.

The disparity in civil defence measures has heightened risks for civilians as missile exchanges intensify across the region.Rising toll amid regional warAt least 15 people have been killed in Israel since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering the current conflict.

The latest incident underscores the widening geographic and human impact of hostilities.The strike comes as streets across the West Bank have been crowded in recent days, with families preparing for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.