Heading for all out war

Israel in Beirut blitz as Brits told to leave

- CHRIS HUGHES

WAR in the Middle East last night edged closer after Israel pounded Beirut in retaliation for a Hezbollah rocket strike that killed 12 children.

The bombardment of the Lebanese capital came as Brits in the country were warned to leave immediately.

Israel claimed its strike aimed to kill the senior Hezbollah commander responsible for last Saturday’s attack on Druze children on a football pitch in the Israeli-controlled town Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the outskirts of Beirut after last night’s blast. At least two people were said to have been killed.

It followed another attack on the Lebanese town of Chebaa on Monday. The latest strike is set to spark a huge backlash from Iran-backed Hezbollah.