Oct 3: The Israeli military and Hezbollah report ground fighting inside southern Lebanon, a day after Israel announced it was invading

• The IDF says it’s using “precision-guided munitions and close-range engagements” inside Lebanon

• It later reports the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers in combat – the first inside Lebanon since the invasion began

• Earlier, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay”, after Iran fired around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday

• Lebanese officials say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks, while around a million may now be displaced

• In Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says Israeli strikes in Khan Younis killed at least 51 people

‘Israel will stand together,’ says Netanyahu after eight soldiers killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country will “stand together” as he sends condolences to the families of the eight Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon today.

In a post to X, Netanyahu says: “We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen – because we will stand together, and with God’s help – we will win together.”

He ends his message saying Israel will return abductees in the south, return residents to the north and will “guarantee the eternity of Israel”.

Iran isn’t looking for war, says President Massoud Pezeshkian

Iran is “not looking for war” but Israel is forcing them to react, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian says.

Speaking earlier at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, he warns Iran “will have a stronger response” if Israel retaliates to yesterday’s strikes.

He says Israel’s objective is to expand violence in the region and blames Israel for not wanting peace.

He goes on to stress that Iran wants to prevent and stop the violence.