Israel on Saturday threatened to strike "every target of the ayatollah regime" in Iran, whose president warned of a severe response if the Israeli attacks continue, fuelling fears of an escalating conflict.

At the heart of the current crisis lies Israel’s fear that Iran is nearing the development of a nuclear weapon — a red line it has long vowed to prevent. Israel’s latest airstrikes reportedly targeted uranium enrichment facilities and military sites suspected of aiding Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was long considered Iran’s first line of defense in case of a war with Israel