UN condemns ‘totally unacceptable’ civilian death toll in Lebanon; Biden cautions Israel over retaliation against Iran

• Living in Lebanon: how have you been affected by the recent violence?

The Israeli military launched a series of strikes on southern Beirut on Thursday night, in one of the most intense bombardments on the city since the campaign began last week.

A source close to Hezbollah told the AFP news agency that Israel had conducted 11 consecutive strikes on the group’s stronghold in the Lebanese capital.

Vice-president and Liz Cheney attack former president for 2020 election lies at Wisconsin campaign event

In a new Truth Social tirade on Thursday morning, Donald Trump accused Joe Biden and Kamala Harris of poorly handling the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The former president wrote:

Kamala and Sleepy Joe are universally being given POOR GRADES for the way that they are handling the Hurricane, especially in North Carolina. It is going down as the WORST & MOST INCOMPETENTLY MANAGED ‘STORM,’ AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, EVER SEEN BEFORE – BUT THEIR MANAGEMENT OF THE BORDER IS WORSE! MAGA2024.”

Target in Lebanese capital thought to be Hashem Safieddine, say Israeli media reports; Palestinian media say death toll largest in single West Bank attack in 24 years

Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK, appearing on BBC radio, has said that Israel is “pushing the region towards abyss”.

PA Media reports Rami Mortada said:

On 7 October, there was a genocide that started in Gaza. Conflicts in the region are contagious because the social fabric shared by all the countries of the region. We need to stop this carnage in Gaza, stop this carnage in Lebanon and seek a diplomatic solution.

This expansion of the war theatre does not help. It’s pushing the region towards abyss. It’s time to reverse the trend and look for a diplomatic solution. That’s what we are saying.

Vice-presidential candidates will go head to head in New York City in a crucial contest weeks before the US general election

Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, on Thursday at 3pm ET.

In 2016, the former president narrowly won Saginaw county, which sits around 100 miles north-west of Detroit and is home to around 200,000 people. However, in 2020, Joe Biden won the county.

Israeli prime minister says Iran ‘will pay’ for strikes; Israeli military issues new warning to residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut

• Israel vows to retaliate after Iran launches unprecedented missile attack

In the warning issued by Israel’s Arabic language military spokesperson, Lebanese residents have been cautioned against moving their vehicles while what Avichay Adraee described as “heavy fighting” was taking place.

It says:

Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks. For your personal safety, we ask you not to move vehicles from the northern region to the southern region of the Litani River. This warning is in effect until further notice.