Defiant children play on wrecked rocket in the Israeli desert

Children were seen playing on the wreckage of a missile in the Israeli desert on Wednesday as the IDF prepares to strike nuclear sites in Iran 'within days'. 

The small group of children and adults clambered on top of the rocket in the Negev desert near Arad, in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on the area. 

Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of this morning, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes against Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Israel said it conducted a precise air strike on Beirut. A security source said it targeted a building in central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood close to parliament, the nearest Israeli strikes have come to Lebanon's seat of government.

At least six people were killed and seven wounded, Lebanese health officials said. A photo reportedly showed a heavily damaged building with its first floor on fire.

Three missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud explosions were heard, Lebanese security officials said. 

Israel may unleash an attack on Iran's nuclear, oil and military facilities in response to the ballistic missile onslaught, it was feared on Wednesday night. 

The country's political leaders are thought to favour a significant and unambiguous retaliation, despite concerns it could incite a seismic wave of conflict across the Middle East.

On Wednesday night, officials were reportedly presenting battle plans to their United States counterparts amid mounting anticipation of military action 'within days'.

Meanwhile, Britain petitioned Israel against escalating the conflict. Thousands of UK citizens who remain in the region.

According to sources, Israel is prepared to respond on its own – but wants to agree plans with allies who would likely be involved in thwarting any further Iranian attacks. US President Joe Biden yesterday said that 'it remains to be seen' how Israel will respond.

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Israel warns Iran it can 'hit them precisely and powerfully' and 'will respond' to missile barrage

Fears over the scale of Israel's retaliation, and its wider consequences, were raised as fighting between the country's troops and Iranian-backed militia in southern Lebanon intensified.

Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Hezbollah fighters and dozens were wounded. Fighting in Lebanon has caused the deaths of 1,263 people, mostly civilians, in the past fortnight.

Calls for Israel to choose the strongest possible response to Tuesday evening's ballistic missile attack were led yesterday by a former prime minister.

Naftali Bennett, who left office in 2022, posted on X: 'We must act now to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, its central energy facilities and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime. We have the justification. We have the tools. Now Hezbollah and Hamas are paralysed, Iran stands exposed.'

His hardline stance was backed by Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid who said: 'Tehran knows Israel is coming. The response needs to send an unequivocal message to the terror axis and Iran itself.'

But Britain continues to fight a rearguard diplomatic action to prevent further escalation of the conflict. On a visit to a UK military base in the eastern Mediterranean, Defence Secretary John Healey said he had told Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that Britain 'totally condemn[s]' the Iranian attack.

But speaking to reporters, he stressed: 'Our biggest concern is to avoid this conflict spiralling out of control into a wider regional war. Our view remains, and I made this argument to him, that the best route to scale back the fighting is for a ceasefire in Lebanon and to back a United Nations plan for a negotiated settlement.

'That's the way we can get the Israeli families back into their homes in northern Israel, and the Lebanese families back into

their homes.' His appeal was echoed by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who told the UN General Assembly in New York the tit-for-tat fighting had to stop.

Mr Guterres said: 'It is time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff.' 

On Wednesday night, Sir Keir Starmer joined fellow leaders of other G7 leaders in calling for de-escalation. Following an emergency meeting led by the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the 'Group of Seven' released a joint statement expressing 'strong concern' over recent escalation and stressing a regional conflict was not in anyone's interests.

In an attempt to ensure Israel's response remains in step with her Western allies, President Biden is due to discuss the crisis with the country's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A defiant Tehran told the US to 'step aside' and repeated a warning of a 'more crushing response' should Israel attack its military or industrial infrastructure.

Israel and Iran have never been closer to a major war, according to security sources, with both states apparently prepared to go 'all in' against the other.

Iran, which is increasingly aligned with Russia against the West, said yesterday it was 'not afraid of war' against Israel but is also 'not seeking escalation'. Tehran is understood to be close to developing atomic weapons, although its governing regime insists the country's nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Iran's UN envoy said Tuesday evening's attack, which saw molten shrapnel from missiles rain down on Israeli cities, was necessary to restore balance in the region.

Meanwhile yesterday, Israel continued its attacks on Gaza. According to local reports 51 Palestinians were killed in an air strike on a school – which according to the Israel Defence Forces was used as a base by Hamas.

A charter plane carrying British nationals from Lebanon landed in Birmingham on Wednesday night.