Middle East Crisis Highlights: Antony Blinken speaks to G7 diplomats over rising regional tensions

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: G7 foreign ministers meet by videoconference to discuss Middle East, over threat of escalation, said Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has asked tourists not to go to Lebanon and for those already there to immediately leave the country.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia called on its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately as tensions soar following high-profile killings in Tehran and Beirut.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Yemeni Houthis took down US MQ-9 drone over the country's northern province Saada, reported Reuters

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Israeli shares fell sharply amid continuous threats of attack from Iran and its proxies

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates:Palestinian attacker killed two people and wounded two others by stabbing in city of Holon, near Tel Aviv before being shot by the police during the early hours of Sunday, Israeli authorities said.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: France on Sunday called on its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country "as soon as possible" amid fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah and a broader regional conflict.

"In a highly volatile security context, we once again call the attention of French nationals, particularly those passing through, to the fact that direct commercial flights and ones with stopovers to France are still available, and we invite them to make their arrangements now to leave Lebanon as soon as possible," the foreign ministry said in its travel advice notice for Lebanon.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi will visit Iran on Sunday for talks with his Iranian counterpart amid heightened regional tensions after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, reported Reuters.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: The US issued an advisory for its citizens in Lebanon, urging them to “book any ticket available” and leave the country.

“The US Embassy notes several airlines have suspended or cancelled flights, and many flights have sold out; however, commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available. Please see available flight options at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. We encourage those who wish to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first-choice route,” the US Embassy in Lebanon wrote in its advisory.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: India has asked its nationals in Israel to remain vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols amid heightened tensions. An advisory issued by the Indian Mission in Israel directed Indians to stay close to safety shelters, assuring them that the embassy is closely monitoring the situation.

On Thursday, the Indian embassy in Lebanon had “strongly urged” Indians to to leave the country. Air India, too, had announced on Friday a temporary suspension of flight operations to Tel Aviv till August 8.

The United States has said that it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah, reported Reuters. The US has also asked its citizens in Lebanon to leave on 'any ticket available', according to AFP.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: US and Israeli officials have indicated that an Iranian attack on Israel could occur as soon as Monday.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent Palestinian political figure who has played a key role in the complex landscape of Middle East politics. He was appointed to head the Hamas office in 1997 after Israel released Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas. In December 2005, Haniyeh was elected to head the Hamas list, which won the Legislative Council elections the following month. Haniyeh became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority government following Hamas's victory in the 2006 legislative election. However, he was dismissed from his position by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007, deepening the political conflict between Fatah and Hamas.

In 2016, Haniyeh succeeded Khaled Mashaal's head leadership of Hamas in elections.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have said that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by Israel using a short-range projectile with a warhead and plans to take revenge "at the appropriate time.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: The US Central Command’s General Michael Kurilla arrived in the Middle East on Saturday as Israel prepares itself for a possible attack by Iran, Axios reported.

While Kurilla’s trip was planned before the recent escalation in tensions, he is expected to use the trip to attempt to mobilize the same international and regional coalition that defended Israel on April 13, reported Bloomberg.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: US President Joe Biden on Saturday expressed hope Iran would stand down despite its threat to avenge the assassination of Hamas’ leader in Tehran.

Asked by reporters whether Iran would stand down, Biden said, "I hope so. I don't know."

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Amid escalating tension between Israel and Hezbollah, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin held talks with Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant about the threats posed by Iran and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

Lloyd Austin stated that the United States is taking additional measures to support the defence of Israel, adding that further conflict is not necessary and that all parties would benefit from a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fired to intercept an attack from Lebanon over the Galilee region - VIDEO.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Istanbul on Saturday evening to denounce the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran earlier this week.

"Israel has murdered an important hero in a way that suits it: treacherously," said Bilal Erdogan, the son of the Turkish head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Hezbollah issued a statement over it firing rockets on Israel.

“In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honourable resistance, and in response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on the steadfast southern villages and safe homes, especially the attacks that targeted the villages of Kafr Kila and Deir Siryan and injured civilians, the Islamic Resistance included the new settlement of Beit Hillel in its fire schedule and bombarded it for the first time with dozens of Katyusha rockets,” it said in the statement.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Iran said that it expects Lebanon's Tehran-backed Hezbollah group to “hit deeper” inside Israel and no longer be confined to military targets after Israel killed the Hezbollah military commander.

"We expect... Hezbollah to choose more targets and (strike) deeper in its response…Secondly, that it will not limit its response to military targets," it said, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

Middle East Crisis LIVE updates: Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of Katyusha rockets at Israel on Sunday, the latest in a series of attacks.

The Iran-backed group said its latest attack, on Beit Hillel in northern Israel, was in response to Israel's attacks on Kfar Kela and Deir Siriane in Lebanon.