Eisenkot says Israel should not return to war for now

Israel should not return to war in the coming weeks unless it comes under "immediate threat", prime ministerial contestant Gadi Eisenkot has said.

Amid tricky coalition talks in Israel, Mr Eisenkot said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should avoid "dangerous moves that can wait until a new government". He warned of a "constitutional conflict" if Mr Netanyahu orders troops into battle, in what would be seen by many as a ploy to stay in power. His appeal comes as US President Donald Trump considers resuming strikes on Iran.

Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei says any new US attack could be met with counter-strikes "far beyond the region", including Europe. Mr Rezaei said the targets could extend to areas "previously thought to be outside the range of Iranian missiles". "If American aircraft take off from a distant military base and come to bomb Iran, we will target that base as well," he told Lebanese TV network Al Mayadeen.