For a third day, the latest developments in the Middle East find a prominent place on the UK front pages. Many of the papers report the latest strike is taking the region a step closer to an ‘all-out war.’ 

A BBC investigation into Mohammed Al Fayed – the former owner of Harrods – makes several of the front pages. The papers report the BBC’s investigation found more than 20 female ex-employees say Mr Al Fayed sexually assaulted or raped them.

Friday’s papers also feature a dash of domestic politics as the Tory leadership race heats up and speculation over the upcoming Budget continues to cause fear and worry. 

‘Middle East closer to regional war’ 

‘Step closer to regional war after attacks,’ says the i newspaper.

The i newspaper features an image of a funeral in Lebanon. The paper says as Israel bombs southern Lebanon, the region is now a step closer to an expanded war. Hezbollah was targeted with electronic device attacks and then a bombing attack has experts believing a retaliation is expected. 

‘Israel will face punishment,’ quotes The Guardian.

The Guardian leads with Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah threatening Israel with “tough retribution and just punishment” in a speech on Thursday. He also threatened to strike Israel “where it expects and where it does not”. 

‘Hezbollah forced to rethink support for Gaza,’ claims the Financial Times.

The FT’s analysis says the attacks suggest Israel’s strategy is to force Hezbollah to rethink its military support for Gaza. 

‘Mohamed Al Fayed accused of rape’

‘Portrayed as gregarious father but was a monster,’ says The Metro.

The Metro says the BBC investigation found more than 20 female ex-employees say Mr Al Fayed sexually assaulted or raped them. The paper says the tycoon who was “portrayed as the gregarious father” of Diana’s lover Dodi in Netflix’s The Crown “was a monster”.

‘Powerful man with so much money,’ quotes the Daily Mirror.

The Mirror reports at least 100 women are feared to have been sexually abused by Fayed. The paper quotes his former personal assistant who accused him of raping her, saying: “He felt like such a powerful man with so much money.”

‘Why didn’t Starmer charge him when he was director of public prosecutions?’ asks Telegraph.

The Telegraph says the accusation about Fayad raises questions as to why he was not charged when the prime minister was the director of public prosecutions. But Downing Street said the PM had no involvement in the decision not to bring charges against Fayad who was questioned by police in 2008. 

‘Civil war breaking out in No 10’ 

‘PM denies he’s losing control of Downing Street,’ writes the Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph’s lead story reports the prime minister is denying he has lost control of Downing Street “despite civil war breaking out at the centre of his government”. The paper claims No 10 tensions and the ongoing row over SUe Gray’s salary threaten to overshadow the Labour Party conference. 

‘Reeves underpressure after £10bn boost,’ says The Times.

The Times says Rachel Reeves has been provided with a £10bn budget boost by the Bank of England. The boost is putting increasing pressure on the chancellor to ease her spending cuts and tax rises. Labour MPs are calling for the cash to be used to delay scrapping some pensioners’ winter fuel payments. 

‘Tory hopeful claims national identity is under threat,’ in a piece written for the Mail.

The Daily Mail leads on Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick, who’s written in the paper that mass immigration and woke culture have put the nation’s identity at risk. In his article, he writes that “unprecedented migration” and the “dismantling of our national culture” have presented what he calls “huge problems”.

‘Consumer confidence fell, wiping out progress,’ writes the FT.

The FT says consumer confidence fell in September, wiping out all the progress the UK had made so far this year, The paper says it comes despite consumers benefiting from cheaper loans, rising real wages and a decrease in inflation.