Israel-Iran latest: Hezbollah and Tehran vow retaliation as Gaza school bombings kill over a dozen

Israel has intensified its attacks in Gaza as countries around the world called for restraint, with the region bracing for Iran and Hezbollah to retaliate over the killing of two top commanders in Iran and Beirut.

Around 15 people have been killed after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bombed two schools being used to shelter displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian Civil Defence.

Israel’s military said that the attacks were intended to destroy Hamas “command-and-control centres” inside the school compounds in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City.

In a joint statement late on Thursday, the US and other mediating countries demanded Israel and Hamas to return to ceasefire talks as there is “no further time to waste, nor excuses”.

There are growing reports that Hezbollah is poised to strike Israel “independently” of Iran. Hezbollah are moving more quickly than their more powerful ally in planning their retaliation and are looking to strike Israel in the coming days, CNN reported.

United Airlines said it has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future and plans to resume them only when it is safe for its customers and crew.

Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Chicago-based airline suspended its daily Newark, New Jersey-Tel Aviv service on 31 July, citing security reasons. The flight, however, was available for booking from 1 September.

On Thursday, United said it was now removing the Tel Aviv flights from its schedule. Customers can