Israel airdropping leaflets with 'very dangerous' barcode, Hezbollah claims

Hezbollah unbowed as fighters fire rocket volleys into northern Israel

Israeli jets are constantly flying overhead in southern Lebanon and we've seen a spate of airstrikes landing on towns and villages.

At one point we could see the horizon had three huge plumes of smoke as the jets struck several targets within a few minutes.

We've also heard salvoes of Hezbollah Fadi rockets being launched from the south into northern Israel, though at the time of writing we were not able to confirm where they landed.

There are still streams of traffic heading north on the main coastal highway from the south to the capital, Beirut, but it appears to have thinned out overnight somewhat. 

Through the day and into the night yesterday, the road was crammed with vehicles, with both sides of the highway heading in one direction.

We were some of the few attempting to go south, in the opposite direction to the huge wave of people heading north.

Tens of thousands have been on the move in a massive displacement of people after the most intensive Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in nearly a year of cross-border exchanges. 

Israeli jets hit targets in southern Lebanon, as well as the eastern Bekaa Valley and struck targets in the capital - the second time hitting Beirut within days. 

Yesterday Lebanon suffered its worst daily deaths in conflict in decades, with nearly 500 killed, including 58 women and 35 children. More than 1,600 people were wounded. And the toll is already rising today. 

Hezbollah, however, appears unbowed. In the past few minutes, their fighters fired off more volleys of rockets into northern Israel.

We've spotted families camped on the beach, their few possessions gathered around them. Others have fled to schools now doubling as emergency shelters. 

The southern hospitals are crammed with wounded. It looks like it will be another bloody day.

Defence secretary leaves Labour conference early to chair emergency COBRA meeting

The British defence secretary is returning to London to chair a COBRA meeting on the situation in the Middle East, Sky News understands.

John Healey has left the Labour conference early in the light of escalating tensions in the region.

COBRA meetings are held in response to national crises or major overseas events with implications for the UK.

Thousands of Britons have been advised to leave Lebanon by commercial means while they still can.

Israel vows to accelerate attacks

Israel's military chief has vowed to accelerate attacks on Lebanon.

Hezbollah must not be given a break, chief of general staff Herzi Halevi says.

"The situation requires continued, intense action in all arenas."

Hezbollah claims Israel airdropping leaflets with 'very dangerous' barcode

Israel is dropping leaflets with a "very dangerous" barcode on them over Lebanon, says Hezbollah's media office.

Scanning the leaflets, which are falling in the eastern Bekaa Valley, would "withdraw all information" from any phone, it said.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Hezbollah's media office did not say if anything else was written on the flyers.

Lebanese hospitals 'overwhelmed' by wounded

A World Health Organisation official in Lebanon has said some hospitals are "overwhelmed" by thousands of wounded people arriving.

Abdinasir Abubakar added: "We have some evidence, and we have some documentation that shows that at least there were some attacks on health facilities, even the ambulances as well."

Israel denies it targets civilians and says it has taken steps to avoid them.

More people are expected to flee their homes, according to the UN refugee agency's spokesman.

"We're looking at tens of thousands, but we expect that those figures will start to rise," Matthew Saltmarsh said. 

"The situation is extremely alarming. It's very chaotic, and we are doing what we can to support the government."

UN human rights chief Volker Turk raised "serious concerns" about whether Israel's methods of warfare were compliant with international humanitarian law.

His spokeswoman dismissed texts ascribed to Israel that told civilians to evacuate parts of southern Lebanon.

"Whether you've sent out a warning, you're telling civilians to flee, doesn't make it okay to then strike those areas, knowing full well that the impact on civilians will be huge," said Ravina Shamdasani.

Footage shows some of the strikes on Lebanon published by the IDF.

Number killed in Lebanon rises to 558

The number of people killed by Israeli strikes on Lebanon this week has risen to 558, the Lebanese health minister says.

Some 50 children and 94 women are among the dead, according to Firass Abiad.

Lebanese officials had last counted 492 deaths, yesterday.

The number of people wounded has risen from 1,645 to 1,835, Mr Abiad added.

He said four paramedics were killed, and 16 paramedics and firefighters were wounded.

In Lebanon: 'Insane' 24 hours as huge wave of population flees bombs

Airstrikes landed on either side of jammed traffic as residents desperately tried to flee the south yesterday, says special correspondent Alex Crawford, from Tyre, southern Lebanon.

She saw one explosion just 200m from the Sky News team, as hundreds of cars crawled in a 12-hour traffic jam to escape.

"There's a great deal of fear. Yesterday was an absolutely insane, extraordinary day for the people of Lebanon, with tens of thousands, literally, a huge wave of the population, moving towards Beirut," said Crawford.

"Families, grandparents, all their possessions, packed on top of their cars, or just grabbing what little they could in a great bid to get out."

She said there's a "huge amount" of anxiety and anger among Lebanese people, some of whom believe Israel intended to force a huge part of the population out of southern Lebanon.

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah military posts.

-SKY NEWS