Israeli ground forces have "started to operate" around a northern Gaza town, expanding an anti-Hamas offensive that will apparently see residents kept out indefinitely.

Several large airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs early Thursday morning, including one on a site adjacent to Lebanon's only international airport.

Cease-fire talks are underway to resolve two related conflicts in the Middle East that have killed tens of thousands of people and threaten to spiral into a wider regional war. On

Hezbollah's new secretary general said Wednesday he did not believe that political action would bring an end to hostilities.