Israeli airstrikes pound Lebanon and Gaza

Israel is pounding Gaza and Lebanon with airstrikes, while the US investigates the leak of classified intelligence about Israel’s planned retaliation against Iran. Follow for live updates.

• Israeli airstrikes have hit more than 15 buildings in Beirut, targeting a Hezbollah-linked financial network. Israel’s foreign minister said the country would keep hitting the militant group until it collapses. Since Israel ramped up strikes against Hezbollah last month, at least 1,802 people have been killed across Lebanon. • The UN has warned that the Israeli military may be destroying the Palestinian population in northern Gaza through “death and displacement,” as it urged Israel to follow a top UN court order to prevent genocide. An Israeli strike on northern Gaza this weekend killed at least 87 people, the enclave’s health ministry said. • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart today for a high-stakes trip to the Middle East as the US seeks to advance long-stalled negotiations to bring back the hostages and end the war in Gaza. However, the White House acknowledged that negotiations toward a ceasefire would not restart anytime soon. • The missile defense system sent by the US to Israel is “in place” and ready for use when needed, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. His comments come as Israel prepares to retaliate after Iran’s missile attack this month — a strike that could prompt a counter-response. Hundreds of right-wing Israeli activists — including government ministers and members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s parliamentary coalition — attended an event Monday calling for the Israeli government to establish Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. Senior ministers who attended the event near the Gaza border included National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister for Social Equality and Minister for Women’s Empowerment May Golan.