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The Israeli military last night confirmed its troops had launched a long-awaited ground invasion of Lebanon, as fears mount that the escalation could plunge the Middle East into an all-out war. After a day of ratcheting tensions in the war-torn region, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that it had begun 'localised and targeted raids' against Hezbollah enemies in southern Lebanon. 'These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,' the military added. The IDF said that its incursion, dubbed 'Operation Northern Arrows', will continue 'according to the...

Parts of Britain were engulfed in riots for a second night in a row as anger continues to grow over the Southport stabbing frenzy which claimed the lives of three young girls. Simmering rage over the senseless attack exploded into violence again as thugs torched police cars, hurled glass bottles and clashed with officers across London, Hartlepool and Manchester last night. The shocking scenes across the country came just hours before Merseyside Police announced that a 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder following the death of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. False speculation online...

The Kremlin has claimed it has downed two Ukrainian missiles aimed at Russia's Kerch Bridge to Crimea - as video shows smoke billowing over the crucial link to the annexed peninsula. The 12-mile crossing carries heavy significance for Moscow, both logistically and psychologically, as a key artery for military and civilian supplies and as an assertion of Kremlin control of the peninsula it illegally annexed in 2014. Russia's foreign ministry vowed retaliation for what it called a 'terrorist attack' on the bridge in Crimea.

President Macron was last night facing calls to impose a state of emergency after marauding gangs of rioters - some armed with stolen rifles - clashed with police in a fourth night of mayhem. Thousands of looters ransacked some of France's major cities as local police declared they were now at 'war' with 'savage hordes of vermin' - with officers from two of the country's biggest policing unions now threatening to revolt. Britain's Foreign Office issued an alert to tourists thinking of travelling to France, as the violence continued to deepen following the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk who...

- as counter-offensive is 'paused' Ukraine's much-anticipated counter-offensive has yielded a mixed response Russia's dominance in the air is having a major impact on Ukraine's counter Putin also resorting to suicide tanks in a bid to restrict Ukrainian advances Russian soldiers are packing tanks with explosives and remotely driving them at Ukranian trenches before detonating in massive fireballs as part of a terrifying new tactic in the Ukraine war. It comes as Kyiv is forced to pause its counter-offensive in the South of the county amid heavy losses of Western armoured vehicles, according to the Wall Street Journal. And terrifying...

Russian troops are being killed fleeing through their own defensive minefields, UK reveals as Ukraine captures ANOTHER village from Putin's forces in growing counterattack Ukraine captured Storozheve, taking control of fourth village in counterattack The UK's Ministry of Defence said good progress was being made in some areas Comes after Ukraine said it captured Neskuchne, Blahodatne and Makarivka Russian troops are being killed fleeing through their own defensive landmines, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has revealed, as Ukraine captured another village from Vladimir Putin's forces. Ukrainian forces are believed to have made good progress in penetrating the first line...

Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault. Russian Black Sea warships were reportedly having to fight the attack off in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea which was annexed from Ukraine in 2014. According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up. Local media are reporting that rescuers this morning are still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships. Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke...