'Deteriorating' crisis in Lebanon leaves Middle East 'on the brink of full-scale war' with Britons told to 'leave now'
Netanyahu presented his visions of the "curse" and "blessing" to the UN today
REUTERS
The "deteriorating" situation in Lebanon has left the entire Middle East teetering on "the brink of a full-scale war", senior diplomats have warned.
Addressing the UN today in the wake of Israeli airstrikes which have rocked its neighbour to the north for days, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, warned "the Middle East is on the brink of a full-scale war".
Also at the organisation's New York City HQ, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu presented his visions of the future - showing off placards of "curse" and "blessing" facing the region.
But his military's strikes have helped to leave the situation in Lebanon in a precarious position - which already looks to be threatening stability further afield.
Netanyahu presented his visions of the "curse" and "blessing" to the UN today
REUTERS
Hezbollah sympathisers in the group's primary backer Iran took to the streets to condemn the US and Israel
REUTERS
Israel said it targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters
REUTERS
As of the early hours of Saturday morning local time, Hezbollah's head Hassan Nasrallah remained "unreachable" following Israel's strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a source close to the group said.
With hours having passed since the strikes, Hezbollah had not made a statement on his fate - though one source close to Hezbollah told Reuters Nasrallah was alive, and Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported he was safe.
A senior Israeli official remained coy when pressed on the success of their strikes.
They told Reuters: "I think it's too early to say, but, you know, it's a question of time.
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PICTURED: Smoke rises in Lebanese capital Beirut after Israeli strikes
REUTERS
As of Friday evening, Hassan Nasrallah's whereabouts were still unknown
REUTERS
"Sometimes they hide the fact when we succeed."
Regardless of whether Israel was successful in the "decapitation strike" on the terror group-cum-political party's head, countries with stakes in the region have expressed their fears.
In a rare alignment between the two powers, the American defence secretary Lloyd Austin has echoed Lavrov's warnings of war.
Austin has been publicly warning that a full-blown war between Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating for both sides - and on Friday, he renewed calls for diplomacy.
Israel has been pursuing targeted strikes against "bad actors" in Hezbollah - and now, much of Lebanon has rallied to the group's side
REUTERS
Counter-strikes by Hezbollah have called Israel's Iron Dome into action
REUTERS
He also admitted he did not have any advanced warning of Israel's strikes in Beirut that targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters - but spoke to his Israeli counterpart as the operation was already underway.
Iran's embassy in Lebanon said on social media that the strike represented a dangerous game-changing escalation that would "bring its perpetrator an appropriate punishment."
Jordan's Foreign Minister said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was driving the region to a full-fledged war.
The ramping-up in rhetoric came as Britain warned once again that UK nationals should leave Lebanon with immediate effect.
The Foreign Office released a statement telling Britons in the country to register their presence, adding in no uncertain terms: "British nationals in Lebanon should leave now. You should take the next available flight."
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