Israeli strikes target Iran and Lebanon as US warns of bombardment ‘surge’

Flames rise following an Israeli airstrike Beirut’s southern suburbs (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon early on Friday with the US apparently striking an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships.

Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end of a full week of bombardment, which US defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned was “about to surge dramatically”.