HEZBOLLAH SAYS FOUR KILLED IN CROSS BORDER FIGHTING WITH ISRAEL

 Hezbollah says four of its fighters were killed in Lebanon on Wednesday evening in cross-border fire with Israel. The Israeli military says it attacked "terrorist" infrastructure, and reported attacks from Lebanon into Israel

1. Fears of a regional war grew after the killing of Hamas's deputy leader, Saleh al-Arouri, in Lebanon on Tuesday
2. The funeral of Arouri - who was a key figure in Hamas's armed wing - is set to take place in Beirut today
3. In Gaza, more bombing has been reported - with the Palestinian Red Crescent saying its building in Khan Younis was hit by Israeli strikes again
4. At least 1,200 people were killed when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October and about 240 others were taken hostage
5. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 22,000 people have been killed in the territory since Israel started its retaliatory campaign.

6. Funeral of assassinated deputy Hamas leader to take place in Beirut

   

   ReutersCopyright: Reuters

   Saleh al-Arouri masterminded attacks in the occupied West BankImage caption: Saleh al-Arouri masterminded attacks in the occupied West Bank

   Saleh al-Arouri's funeral is due to take place in Lebanon's capital Beirut today.

   The deputy Hamas leader was assassinated in the city on Tuesday, ramping up fears about Israel's war with Hamas turning into a wider regional conflict.

   Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the killing.

   Little is known about the funeral at the moment - we'll share the first images of it when we've got them.

7. Who was senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri?

   The assassination of Hamas's deputy leader, Saleh al-Arouri, has been seen as a pivotal moment precisely because he's the most senior member of the group to have been killed since Israel went to war with it after 7 October.

   The 57-year-old was deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau and the founding commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the group's military wing.

   Arouri joined Hamas in 1987, leading the Islamic student movement and helping establish the group's military presence in the West Bank.

   He had been based in Lebanon prior to his death, acting as a connection between his group and Hezbollah. More here.

8. Israel says it destroyed 'weapons warehouse' in southern Gaza

   

   EPACopyright: EPA

   Israeli tanks pictured near the border with GazaImage caption: Israeli tanks pictured near the border with Gaza

   Following reports there's been more overnight strikes in Gaza, Israeli military has released a flurry of operational updates this morning - here's a quick look at what they say has been happening on the ground:

   • The IDF "killed three terrorists" in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, who Israel claims had tried to plant a bomb among its forces
   • In the same area, a weapons warehouse reportedly belonging to Hamas was destroyed
   • Away from the south, the Israeli Air Force has been targeting more buildings belonging to Hamas in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip
   • Also in the centre of the enclave, the IDF says it found long-range rocket launchers during an operational search of the Bureij refugee camp.
   • THIS AND MANY MORE UPDATES AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67879726