Iran sponsored Hizbullah because it wanted Hizbullah to fight the Israelis,” says Meir Javedanfar, an Iran expert, rather than Iran having to. “That would have been completely reversing and putting the whole subcontracting model on its head.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) says it has destroyed "dozens" of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers as part of the attacks on Iran's air defence systems in the west of the country. Calling it a "large-scale strike", the IAF says this forms part of ongoing operations to damage Iran's air defence systems and those of its proxies.

Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses to strike buildings in the heart of the country.

Iranian media reported that Israel struck the South Pars Gas Field in what would be the first attack on an Iranian energy site.

Satellite imagery shared with BBC Verify has provided a clearer picture of damage inflicted on two of Iran's key nuclear sites as well as other military targets.

Iran will stop sharing information with the International Atomic Energy Agency about new and special measures to protect its nuclear materials and equipment, Iranian nuclear negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi told Iranian state media,

Iran does not want its conflict with Israel to expand to neighbouring countries unless the situation is forced, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, adding its response had been based on self-defence.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Sunday that they targeted Israel in coordination with Iran, the first time an Iran-aligned group has publicly announced joint cooperation on attacks with Tehran. The Yemeni group targeted central Israel's Jaffa with several ballistic missiles in the last 24 hours,