One SSNP member killed, others wounded in Israeli strike on Shihine, southern Lebanon: Day 290 of the Gaza war

Thank you for joining us for our live coverage today. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the latest updates.

Goodnight!

- An Israeli drone raided the outskirts of Wazzani (Marjayoun), residents told our correspondent in South Lebanon.

- Israeli artillery fire targeted the northern outskirts of Mais el-Jabal (Marjayoun), according to local residents.

Here are the latest developments on the Lebanese-Israeli border:

- In response to the Israeli strike that targeted the village of Yater (Bint Jbeil), Hezbollah claimed to have targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the settlement of Manara, opposite the Lebanese village of Houla (Marjayoun), causing a fire.

- A fire broke out in Kfar Kila following phosphorus bombardments that targeted the village and its outskirts, reports our correspondent.

- Israeli artillery fire targeted the south-western entrance to Khiam (Marjayoun) and the outskirts of Houla.

The Ministry of Health of Gaza has announced 70 deaths following Israeli attacks on Khan Younis, in the south of the Palestinian territory.

“The attacks and massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation in the Khan Younis governorate since this morning and until now” have resulted in the deaths of "70 martyrs and left more than 200 wounded, some in serious condition," the ministry said.

- At 5:45 p.m., Hezbollah targeted the Israeli spy equipment at the radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with appropriate weapons, destroying it.

- At 5:50 p.m., Hezbollah successfully targeted the spy equipment at the Raheb site with appropriate weapons.

- Israeli warplanes targeted the town of Hanin (Bint Jbeil district), according to residents. At least one girl was injured and was transferred to a hospital.

Also in South Lebanon:

- Israeli warplanes raided the village of Khiam, residents told our correspondent in South Lebanon.

- Israeli artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Shebaa (Hasbaya), according to local residents.

Israeli fighter jets carried out two raids on Aita al-Shaab (Sour district), residents told our correspondent in South Lebanon.

The armed wing of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) has announced the death of one of its fighters, Ibrahim Ikram Moussaoui, who was born in Karha (Baalbeck-Hermel) in 2003 and died on Monday in southern Lebanon.

The victim had joined the ranks of the “Eagles of the Whirlwind,” the armed wing of the SSNP, in 2022. Moussaoui had also “participated in several military training courses as part of the party's return to the jihad scene,” explains a statement.

Here are the latest developments in South Lebanon:

- Israeli warplanes raided a house in Yater (Bint Jbeil), residents told our correspondent.

- Israeli artillery fire using phosphorus targeted the village of Odaisseh (Marjayoun), according to local residents.

A member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) was killed and others wounded in the Israeli raid that earlier targeted the village of Shihine (Sour district), our correspondent reports.

According to a security source, two shells fired by an Israeli drone targeted a house belonging to a group affiliated to the SSNP. The house was completely destroyed.

According to our correspondent, two members of the SSNP have been killed since the beginning of the war. Before him, a party member was killed in an Israeli strike on Dec. 15, 2023, in Yarin.

Protesters stand in front of the IRC headquarters in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/LOrient Today)

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized a solidarity stand for Gaza in front of the International Red Cross headquarters at the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Saida, southern Lebanon.

The demonstration was held "to support Gaza and the West Bank, condemn the horrific massacres against the Palestinian people... and back the national dialogue in Beijing," according to the group.

In a speech, Mahmoud Abu Suwayd, a representative of the Arab Front in Saida, called on Israel to "stop the aggression, end the siege, withdraw its occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, return the displaced, ensure all their basic needs and release prisoners and detainees through a fair exchange deal."

Here are the latest updates on the security situation in South Lebanon:

- Israeli drones targeted the town of Shihin (Sour), according to a security source.

- An Israeli military aircraft breached the sound barrier twice over Saida and other areas in southern Lebanon, causing a loud noise that shook doors and windows.

The Hostage Forum, an Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, has announced that two captives held by Hamas have been killed in the Palestinian territory.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has announced a new death toll of 39,006 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel, now in its tenth month.

At least 23 people have been killed in the last 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement, adding that 89,818 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7.

A Major General on an Israeli radio show emphasized the need for Israel to seek a resolution and strengthen its position to avoid further casualties, reported The Jerusalem Post.

"We cannot bring order to the North if there is no order in the South first."

He stated, “The great enemy is Iran,” while highlighting the threat posed by Hezbollah’s “Radwan Force” on the border if no agreement is reached.

He warned, “Every time we hit a significant target in Lebanon, they increase their efforts.”

He concluded by suggesting that if Israel plans a broad attack in Lebanon, eliminating threats would be justified, however, if not, such eliminations should be viewed as means rather than end.

The UN Office for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) announced on X that one of its convoys heading for Gaza as part of a “coordinated and approved” mission was attacked yesterday by “heavy fire” from the Israeli army. One of the vehicles, which was "clearly marked UN," was hit by five bullets and had to withdraw from the convoy. UNRWA reported that the convoy was at an Israeli army checkpoint when it came under attack. No casualties were reported. 

According to Haaretz, one of the hostages held in Gaza was confirmed dead today, although the outlet reported that he had been deceased for months.

Hezbollah said it targeted the "al-Malikiah" site  — facing the Lebanese village of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) — with an exploding drone that "hit one of its walls, destroying part of it and setting it on fire.".

Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported intercepting several aerial targets crossing from Lebanon into Israel, with no casualties recorded, said Haaretz

Lebanese hospitals “are prepared to a certain extent to deal with a generalized war in the country, which would be more or less comparable to the 2006 war”, said Sleimane Haroun, President of the Private Hospitals Syndicate.

Questioned on the subject by Voix du Liban radio, Haroun explained that preparations in terms of equipment and personnel “are being carried out under the supervision of the Health Ministry.”

To learn more about how the various sectors are preparing for the possible spread of the conflict to Lebanon, press here

Meanwhile in Hodeida, fuel tanks and a power plant are still ablaze — following the Israeli strike.

Firefighters may not be “able to contain the spread of the fire” for several days, Mohammad Albasha, Middle East analyst for the US Navanti Group, told AFP, raising fears of worsening shortages in this impoverished country on the Arabian Peninsula.

After the Israeli port strike in Yemen, the Israeli army said it had intercepted a missile “approaching Israel,” heading for the southern resort of Eilat.

Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson of Yemen's Houthi rebels, confirmed that missiles had been fired against Eilat.

Other operations against the Houthis will follow “if they dare to attack us,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In response to the deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv, Israel bombed the strategic Houthi-held port of Hodeida in war-torn western Yemen on Saturday, killing six people and wounding dozens more.

While firefighters were busy putting out the blaze caused by the Israeli airstrikes, the Houthis reiterated their threats against Israel. “The response to Israeli aggression (...) is inevitable and will be enormous”, warned their military spokesman, Yahya Saree. Rebel leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi said the strikes would lead to “new attacks targeting Israel.”

And while negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of hostages have stalled for several months, Netanyahu announced last night that he had agreed to send a new delegation on Thursday to negotiate an agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to travel to Washington later today, where he is scheduled to meet U.S. President Joe Biden tomorrow before a speech to Congress on Wednesday. This visit aims to strengthen Netanyahu's ties with the U.S., which have been damaged by the Gaza war.

This will be Netanyahu's first visit to Washington in almost four years, and his first trip abroad since Oct. 7. 

Not only does Netanyahu's visit come amid his tense relations with the U.S. over weapon shipments and remarks made by the Israeli Prime Minister, but it also comes amid Israeli infighting and a decline in his popularity. 

Recently, Israeli Channel 12 conducted a poll indicating that 72% of Israelis want him to resign, either now or after the war. Only 30% said they think he's the person most fit to be prime minister, according to Axios. 

In Gaza, Israeli strikes and tank shelling killed at least 16 Palestinians in eastern areas of Khan Younis, Gaza health officials said on today, reported Reuters.

Shortly after Israel issued new orders to evacuate some neighbourhoods after what it said was renewed attacks from those zones.

The United Nations, international relief agencies and Palestinians have said there is no safe place left in Gaza. Earlier this month, dozens of Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks in the Al-Mawasi humanitarian-designated areas. 

To read more about it, press here. 

After a quiet morning today, at 9 a.m. residents reported an Israeli artillery shelling on the heights of Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya district).

Here are last night's updates on the security situation in southern Lebanon:

- at 8 p.m. Israeli airstrikes targeted Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), as well as the areas of Wadi al-Asafir and Wadi Kaiss in the village of Khiam (Marjayoun). Shortly after, Israel strikes bombed Yaroun (Bint Jbeil).

- 10:30 pm: Israeli airstrikes targeted a house near the Yaroun cemetery, and ambulances were dispatched to the site. No reports of injuries are yet available. 

- After midnight, Israeli artillery fired five missiles on Houla and Wadi el-Bir, north of Mais al-Jabal — both in the Marjayoun district.

- Israeli machine gun fire targeted the villages of Aita al-Shaab and Kfar Kila (Bint Jbeil).

Good morning! 

Welcome to our live coverage of the Gaza war and its impact on the region, particularly Lebanon.