Live – Israel launches new strikes on Iran and Lebanon as the US warns of intensifying attacks

Israeli air forces carried out 26 strikes on the Dahieh neighbourhood in southern Beirut in the early hours of Friday, targeting what it claimed was Hezbollah infrastructure.

It comes after Israel warned a day prior that the Iran-backed Lebanon-based group will “face the consequences” choosing to join the war in support of Tehran, stressing that any threat on Israel or its people will not be tolerated.

“Among the targets were an executive council’s command centre and a facility storing UAVs used for attacks against Israel,” announced the IDF in a post on X.

The Israeli military says it has however taken measures to “mitigate the risk of harm to civilians” prior to the strikes. 

The Saudi Defence Ministry says it has intercepted another drone launched from Iran on Friday, this time, northeast of the capital Riyadh.

It comes after an earlier announcement where the ministry announced that it has intercepted three drones targeting the city. 

The UAE’s flagship carrier, Etihad Airways, says it will resume a “limited flight schedule” from Friday, operating between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations.

In a post on X, the Emirati airline says guests with previous bookings on flights interrupted by the war will be accommodated on these flights, but has urged travellers to only make their way to the airport if directly contacted by its representatives, or hold a valid confirmed booking on one of these new flights.

“The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments. Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met,” says Etihad.

All other routes remain suspended until further notice, but the airline noted that its executives are constantly reviewing the situation and are working on making more flights available soon. 

Residents of Dubai have been receiving mass text messages warning them about their social media activity.

A message attributed to Dubai police said that “photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability.”

There was no elaboration in the message.

It comes as Bahrain issued a similar, but sterner warning as the Iran war rages on across the Mideast.

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven autocratic sheikhdoms home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The UAE, while socially liberal in many regards compared with its Middle Eastern neighbours, has strict laws governing expression and bans political parties and labour unions.

Iranian state television reported on Friday that a leadership council in the country met and discussed how to hold a meeting of the country’s Assembly of Experts, which will select the nation’s new supreme leader.

The leadership council includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi and cleric Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi.

The statement provided no timeline on the selection of the supreme leader, nor information on whether the Assembly of Experts would meet in person or remotely for the vote.

Buildings associated with the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical panel, have been attacked during the US-Israeli military campaign.

The Saudi Defence Ministry said it destroyed three drones in the eastern areas of Riyadh.

The ministry said earlier Friday that it intercepted a cruise missile over the city of Kharj.