More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in the past two weeks, officials said, as Lebanon braces for a possible ground invasion.

The last 48 hours in the Middle East – in which Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and continued to bombard the Iran-backed group across Lebanon – have once more ratcheted fears that this long-running conflict could spiral into a wider regional war.

The attacks have dealt stunning blows to Hezbollah, killing much of its leadership and revealing gaping security holes.