Four Israeli soldiers killed in the Hezbollah attack on a military base, Israel announces | Day 373 of the Gaza and Lebanon wars

Hezbollah has "warned the Israeli enemy that its aggression against the population in Lebanon will make Haifa and other cities (targets) for the Resistance's missiles just like Kiryat Shmona, Metula," and other border areas - according to a statement released by the party.

Hezbollah also cautioned Israel that "what it saw today in the south of Haifa is only the beginning if it decides to continue its aggression against our people."

Thank you for following our LIVE coverage. We will back on Monday morning with the latest updates.

🔴 Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Hezbollah attack on a military base south of Haifa, Israel announced, as reported by AFP. 

Hezbollah has also threatened Israel with further attacks if it continues its offensive in Lebanon.

🔴 Hezbollah Launches Missiles at Israeli Military Base Near Haifa

Hezbollah has announced that it fired missiles at an Israeli military base near Haifa in northern Israel, shortly after claiming responsibility for a drone attack that left over 60 people injured in the area.

The Iran-backed Islamist movement stated in a communiqué that its fighters had launched "a barrage of missiles at the maintenance and rehabilitation base south of Haifa," Israel's largest city in the north, dedicating this attack to its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated on September 27 by an Israeli strike near Beirut.

French President Calls for General De-escalation in Gaza and Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged his Iranian counterpart to support "a general de-escalation" in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

During a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reported by AFP, Macron emphasized "Iran's responsibility to support a general de-escalation and to use its influence in this regard with the destabilizing actors that receive its support," according to the French presidency.

The Iranian presidential cabinet, for its part, stated that Macron and Pezeshkian discussed ways to guarantee a "ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel."

The Iranian president requested his French counterpart to "collaborate with other European countries to pressure the Zionist regime to end the genocide and crimes committed in Gaza and Lebanon," the cabinet added.

A political source has denied reports that there was a "request from the Israeli government" not to strike Beirut in recent days. There has not been a bombardement targeting the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs since  deadly strikes on Thursday night - Haaretz reports. 

"The article regarding an alleged directive from political officials asking the Israeli army to stop or reduce its attacks on Beirut is completely false," said the source. "Israel remains free to act throughout Lebanon, depending on the presence of targets."

Hezbollah announced that it had executed an "ambush" against an Israeli patrol attempting to "infiltrate" the outskirts of Mays al-Jabal, in the Marjayoun district, at 7:30 p.m.

After observing the movements of these soldiers, Hezbollah fighters targeted them with "heavy machine gun and artillery fire." "Intense close combat" ensued, resulting in "deaths and injuries" among the Israeli forces and "the patrol retreated," Hezbollah claimed in a statement.

The UN's Secretary-General António Guterres has reaffirmed that "UNIFIL personnel and their facilities must never be targeted," according to his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

"Attacks against peacekeepers are contrary to international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime," António Guterres warned.

His comments come in response to an address by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who asked Guterres earlier in the day to withdraw UN peacekeepers from southern Lebanon for their safety.

"In the context of the ongoing hostilities in southern Lebanon and despite the attacks that have struck United Nations positions, injuring a number of peacekeepers in recent days, the peacekeepers of UNIFIL remain in all their positions, and the United Nations flag continues to fly," he added.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized to French President Emmanuel Macron the importance of "putting an end to Israeli aggression, returning displaced people to their regions (in Lebanon), fully implementing Resolution 1701 [which ended the 2006 war] compelling Israel to cease its aggressions and violations, forcing it to fully comply with the resolution's provisions, and finally, preventing attacks on UNIFIL forces in the south of the country."

Najib Mikati conveyed this message to the French president, who contacted him to "discuss the current situation in Lebanon and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon," according to a statement from the Grand Serail.

The Israeli village of Menara was hit again twice by Hezbollah rockets, which claimed to have targeted soldiers there at 9:30 PM and 9:50 PM. This marks the fourth strike on this northern Israeli locality since 7:15 PM.

Hezbollah launched a new rocket strike on Menara (facing Houla) at 9:25 PM, according to a statement from the party.

Israeli media reported that the Israeli military had "refrained from carrying out airstrikes in Beirut" over the past three days at the request of U.S. President Joe Biden.

According to Kan News and Ynet, cited by the Times of Israel, Joe Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit the army's bombing of the capital in a phone call on Wednesday evening. It is unclear whether the reports in the Israeli press refer to strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs or in Beirut itself.

The phone call took place on Oct. 9, the day before Israeli strikes on two residential buildings in central Beirut, one in the Ras al-Nabaa neighborhood and the other in the adjacent Basta neighborhood, killing 22 people and wounding more than 100. Since that attack, there have been no more bombings of the southern suburbs or the capital. These nightly strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs had previously been taking place daily since Sept. 27 and the massive bombing that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Following the drone strike on Benyamina, which left dozens of people injured according to Israeli emergency services, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two new attacks: At 7:15 p.m., against the Israeli border village of Menara, opposite Houla (Marjayoun), and ten minutes later against "Khallet Warda," opposite the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Israeli emergency services, cited by Haaretz, said the number of injured in a drone strike claimed by Hezbollah on a military base in Binyamina had risen to "more than 60."

This is the highest number of injuries in a Hezbollah attack on northern Israel since the start of the clashes on Oct. 8, 2023. In April, a strike on a "community center" in Arab Aramshe injured 17 people and killed a reservist.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility in a statement for the drone attack on a Golani Brigade training camp in Binyamina, south of Haifa.

In the Bekaa, the Israeli army again bombed Hermel (Hermel). Iaat and the plain of Ain (Baalbeck) were also targeted.

In south Lebanon, an Israeli strike cut the road at Khallet Khazen (Jezzine), linking Rihane to Aaishieh, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. Another strike targeted Shameh and the outskirts of Naqoura (Sour), each time without causing any injuries.

Hezbollah announced that it had launched a salvo of rockets at 7:15 p.m. on the "logistics base of Tesnobar in the occupied Golan." The party has not yet mentioned the drone attack on Haifa.

Hezbollah announced that it had launched a salvo of rockets at 7:15 a.m. on the "logistics base of Tesnobar in the occupied Golan." The party has not yet mentioned the drone attack on Haifa.

Hezbollah warned Israeli civilians not to approach army bases in northern Israel "until further notice," Haaretz reported. A second drone from Lebanon was reportedly intercepted, the daily added.

According to Haaretz and al-Mayadeen, the drone attack south of Haifa left at least 39 people injured.

The Israeli military suspects the drone was launched from Lebanon and is currently investigating why the warning system failed to detect it.

The Israeli military responded to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by saying that Israeli tanks had moved toward the UNIFIL position and incidentally destroyed its entrance gate by firing on it to "evacuate Israeli soldiers wounded by anti-tank fire."

According to a statement by the army relayed by Haaretz, it was specified that "during the incident, the activities of the Israeli army did not threaten UNIFIL," adding that they had "maintained constant contact with UNIFIL." The army also said that there had been smoke shelling during the incident to filter the activity of the troops and facilitate the evacuation of wounded soldiers.

In south Lebanon, an Israeli strike targeted Taybeh (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.

In south Lebanon, an Israeli strike targeted Taybeh (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.

According to Israeli and Arab media reports, at least 20 people were injured in a drone attack near Binyamina in central Israel, several kilometers south of Haifa.

According to Haaretz, citing the Magen David Adom emergency services, at least three people are in critical condition and five are seriously injured. Several dozen ambulances were sent to the scene. According to al-Mayadeen, a drone targeted a military dining hall attached to a base of the Golani Brigade, which is one of those engaged in the Israeli offensive in south Lebanon.

In the Bekaa, Israeli strikes hit Zboud, north of Baalbeck, as well as Hermel, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

In south Lebanon, strikes by Israeli planes continue, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. The towns of Burj al-Qallawieh (Bint Jbeil), Dhairah, Shabriha, Tyr Harfa (Sour), Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya) and Mayfadoun (Nabatieh) have been hit.

The fourth Qatari-chartered plane carrying aid for Lebanon is scheduled to land at Beirut airport at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, according to a statement from the Lebanese Health Ministry. The third plane landed on Sunday.

Hezbollah announced that it targeted with a drone loaded with explosives a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Zar'it barracks, which faces Ramieh (Bint Jbeil). 

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Jordan for an official visit where he will be received on Monday by King Abdullah II, according to a statement from the Grand Serail.

The recording of the late Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah consists of a roughly two-minute message of encouragement to Hezbollah fighters. The message is interspersed with footage of fighting on the ground, emphasizing the resilience and determination of the group's members in the face of current challenges.

"We are counting on your presence, your faith and your jihad to defend your people, your homeland, your values ​​and your honor," Nasrallah said.

Hezbollah is currently releasing an old audio recording of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel in a massive strike on a residential neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sept. 27. 

In a final assessment of the Israeli strike on a residential building in the village of Maaysara, in Kesrouan, on Saturday, the Ministry of Health said that 16 people were killed and 21 injured.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said it was "incomprehensible" that the United Nations would not move peacekeepers out of areas of south Lebanon, according to Reuters.

He also said in a statement that details of an incident on Sunday involving the U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL, were being investigated

The Pentagon announced on Sunday the deployment in Israel of a US high-altitude anti-missile defense system THAAD, which will be operated by the United States military, following missile attacks by Iran.

 The Lebanese army accused the Israeli army, in a statement posted on social media, of targeting two military vehicles this Sunday, in the town of Burj al-Moulouk (Marjayoun). These vehicles were transporting a bulldozer intended to repair roads damaged by the bombings, the army said, adding that the attack injured three soldiers.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that Iran is ready to respond to any Israeli action against its territory, Reuters reported citing the Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Hajizadeh made the remarks as Iran awaits what Israel has said will be retaliation for its Oct. 1 missile strikes on Israel.

Latest news from the Israeli-Lebanese border:

- Israeli airstrikes targeted the village of Raahaya al-Foukhar (Hasbaya) and the outskirts of Deir Mimas and Khiam (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South.

- Israeli artillery fired fragmentation shells on the outskirts of Jibbain, Chihine, Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab (Sour).

- Hezbollah announced that it fired artillery shells at a group of Israeli soldiers at the Israeli site of Misgav Am, opposite the Lebanese village of Kfar Kila (Marjayoun), at 5 p.m.

Former Israeli Minister Benny Gantz said that "the ground operation in Lebanon must continue and expand until the people of the north return to their homes and no longer have to be evacuated." These statements were made during a visit to northern Israel and were reported by several Israeli media outlets.

An Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip killed five children, Reuters reported, citing the state-run Palestinian news agency WAFA and media affiliated with Hamas.

A group of children were playing near a cafe in the Al-Shati area when they were killed by a drone strike, according to WAFA, citing local sources.

After 4 pm, Israel's artillery targeted the hill of Jabal al-Sadana with cluster shells, security sources told L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south.

According to these sources, these shells are "fired to inflict a large number of casualties."

Earlier today, Hezbollah accused for the first time the Israeli army of having bombed the localities of Hanin and Tiri, in the southern Lebanese district Bint Jbeil, with ”missiles loaded with cluster bombs.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed Sunday to prevent Hezbollah from resuming its fighting positions along the Lebanese border, even after the Israeli military withdraws.

"Even after the withdrawal of Israeli army troops, we will not allow Hezbollah terrorists to return to these areas," Gallant said during a visit to a border observation post.

According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south, Israeli planes targeted Aita al-Jabal, the outskirts of Kfar Dounine (Bint Jbeil), Maarakeh, Shehabieh (Sour) and Khiam (Marjayoun).

Israeli warplanes targeted an illegal crossing point linking the Lebanese village of Jermash with the Syrian town of Qusayr in the countryside of Homs, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa. The attack was reported to be targeting the last remaining illegal crossing point in the region.

25 Israeli soldiers were wounded by anti-tank fire in Lebanon in two separate incidents, two of them seriously, Haaretz reported, citing an Israeli military spokesperson. The rest were moderately or lightly injured and were evacuated to hospitals in northern Israel.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati thanked Saudi Arabia for sending "a first plane that opens an air bridge to deliver aid to Lebanon." He was speaking at a meeting in Beirut with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Boukhari, the content of which was reported by the state-run National News Agency.

The latter said: " This Saudi aid demonstrates solidarity with the Lebanese people and Arab brotherhood. The kingdom will spare no effort to provide the necessary assistance, especially in these difficult circumstances."

Hezbollah announced that it attacked Israeli troops in the western neighborhood of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) at 4:45 p.m. and that since then, heavy clashes have been ongoing, involving machine guns, rockets and artillery shells.

Israeli jets targeted a center of the Islamic Health Committee, an association linked to Hezbollah, in the village of Seddiqine (Sour). The number of victims is still unknown.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued a statement demanding explanations from Israel for "serious violations" committed by its troops in south Lebanon. These violations include Merkava tanks firing on the entrance to a UNIFIL position in Ramieh (Bint Jbeil), as well as the entry of Israeli soldiers into Lebanese territory by crossing the Blue Line. UNIFIL expressed concern about the safety of its soldiers and reaffirmed the importance of respecting international resolutions, including Resolution 1701.

At an Israeli cabinet meeting this morning, security officials informed ministers that Hezbollah reportedly still has about "a third of its stockpile of medium- and short-range missiles," according to a Haaretz report citing a source present at the meeting. However, the newspaper provided no concrete evidence to support this claim.

Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Sarain (Baalbeck), Hermel, Qellaya and a house in the village of Mashgharah in western Bekaa, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in this region.

In south Lebanon, Hezbollah announced that it fired artillery shells at a group of Israeli soldiers on the "Kanaan hills" in the village of Blida (Marjayoun) at 3:20 p.m.

Israeli airstrikes targeted the Mahmoudieh farm, as well as the villages of Rihane (Jezzine), Seddiqine, Bazourieh, Hanouieh (Sour), Malikieh and an area between Bourj al-Moulouk, Tall al-Nahas and Kfar Kila (Marjayoun). In addition, ten Israeli shells fell on the neighborhoods and surroundings of Khiam (Marjayoun).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz that Israeli attacks on U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon are unacceptable, according to an Italian government press release reported by Reuters.

Hezbollah announced that it had carried out two other operations against Israel at 3:15 p.m., in addition to the guided missile attack on a tank south of the village of Qouzah (Bint Jbeil):

The party claims to have fired rockets at two groups of Israeli soldiers moving in Khallet Wardah, opposite the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil); and near the Shomera barracks, located opposite Ramieh (Bint Jbeil).

Hezbollah announced that it had carried out two other operations against Israel at 3:15 p.m., in addition to the guided missile attack on a tank south of the village of Qouzah (Bint Jbeil):

The party claims to have fired rockets at two groups of Israeli soldiers moving in Khallet Wardah, opposite the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil); and near the Shomera barracks, located opposite Ramieh (Bint Jbeil).

Israeli strikes that targeted Toul and Nabatieh al-Faouqa earlier destroyed two buildings. Bombings were also reported between the villages of Sharqieh and Nmeirieh (Nabatieh), where businesses were destroyed. Deir Antar and Beit Lif were also bombed, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south

Hezbollah announced in a new statement that it struck an Israeli tank that was south of Kouzah, in southern Lebanon. It said the vehicle caught fire and its crew was "killed and wounded." Earlier in the day, the party announced "fighting" with Israeli soldiers in Kouzah.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for the U.N. to withdraw its peacekeepers from south Lebanon.

"Netanyahu is not only attacking Lebanon, causing untold deaths and destruction, but is also showing his hostility towards the U.N. forces (UNIFIL) operating in the south of the country," Mikati said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in Baghdad that Iran was "fully prepared to face a war situation," but insisted that his country wanted "peace," particularly in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

"We are fully prepared to face a war situation. We are not afraid of war, but we do not want it, we want peace and we will work for a just peace in Gaza and Lebanon," the minister said at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Baghdad opposed the regional war spreading to Iran after Israel vowed to retaliate for Tehran's recent missile attack.

"The continuation of the war and its expansion towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and the use of Iraqi airspace as a corridor are totally unacceptable and rejected," he said at a press conference with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in the Iraqi capital.

Hezbollah claimed to have struck Kiryat Shmona, an Israeli village near the border, facing the Lebanese town of Houla (Marjayoun), and to have launched "a large number of rockets" at the Tsurit base, west of Karmiel, about twenty kilometers from the Blue Line.

According to Haaretz, 30 rockets were fired at Karmiel, some of which fell near the town, causing fires. 

Rockets were also launched by Hezbollah at "Israeli vehicles and soldiers in the Zar'it barracks," opposite Ramieh (Bint Jbeil), and "the Habouchit position," opposite Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya). 

The Consulate General of Lebanon in Rio de Janeiro, with the help of a crisis unit that it set up on site, was able to send, after a first batch of seven tons, a second batch of four tons of various medicines to Beirut. This second shipment will leave Rio de Janeiro to reach the Guarulhos air base, then Lebanon.

These donations are the result of contacts made by the consulate in Rio with Brazilian pharmaceutical laboratories, which responded and sent their donations to the Lebanese state, reports the al-Markazia agency. The second phase of humanitarian aid to Lebanon includes medicines for the war wounded.

An Israeli strike hit near a Lebanese army vehicle on the road leading to Bourj al-Moulouk (Marjayoun), reported L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south. This bombing injured three soldiers. The army did not immediately comment on these strikes.

Since the end of the week, several Lebanese soldiers have been killed in Israeli strikes, notably at a roadblock in Kafra.

Aid will reach Lebanon from the Sultanate of Oman tomorrow morning, announced the Lebanese ambassador to Muscat, Albert Samaha. This aid was decided by Sultan Haytham Ben Tarek, through the Omani Aid Agency, and will include 40 tons of medicines and other humanitarian equipment.

As a security source reported the launch of numerous rockets from southern Lebanon towards Israel, residents of several villages in northern Israel were urged to remain in shelters, particularly in the occupied Syrian Golan and the Upper Galilee, which borders Lebanon. Local councils in these regions have asked residents of the affected villages, which have been largely emptied of their inhabitants for months, to avoid gatherings.

The Israeli army reported 30 rocket attacks towards Karmiel, east of Acre, around 20 kilometers from the border, and 100 rockets fired by Hezbollah since midnight. 

The situation in south Lebanon and the Bekaa:

In south Lebanon, fighter jets struck Ramieh and Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), Kfar Tebnit, Arnoun and woods near Toul (Nabatieh). In Toul, the strike targeted the outskirts of Ragheb Harb Hospital. Bombings also took place in Bazourieh (Sour).

In the Bekaa, an Israeli strike targeted Knaysseh, north of Baalbeck. 

Funeral ceremonies are being planned in Iraq and Iran for Revolutionary Guards general Abbas Nilforoushan, who was killed alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the IRGC's' Sepah news agency said.

The guards said Friday that his body had been recovered and would be transferred to Iran for burial. Funeral ceremonies will be held in Najaf and Karbala, in Iraq, before the body is transferred to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad, according to Sepah. Another ceremony will be held Tuesday in Imam Hossein Square in central Tehran, before the burial scheduled for Thursday in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, the source said. 

The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted an urgent statement on X, instructing residents of several southern villages to evacuate immediately and move north of the Awali River “for their safety.”

The villages listed for evacuation include Markaba, Rab al-Thalathine, Tallouseh, Taybeh, Qantara, Deir Seryan, Qoussair (Marjayoun) Froun, Haris, Tebnine, Kafra, Deir Ntar (Bint Jbeil) Rechknanay, Seddiqine, Rmadieh, Hanouiyeh, Qana, Aitit (Sour), Maisat, Houmayri and Bestita (Sour).

Adraee warned that “Hezbollah's activities are forcing the [Israeli army] to take action against it.”

He further instructed residents: “You must leave your homes and move immediately north of the river ... Heading south is prohibited, as any movement towards the south poses a risk to your life. We will inform you when conditions allow for your return home."

The situation in south Lebanon:

Fighter jets bombed houses in Rihane (Jezzine) as well as Khiam, which was hit four times.

Hezbollah claimed to have been fighting, since 1:15 p.m., an Israeli infantry patrol that is trying to infiltrate Kouzah, three kilometers east of Ramieh, where fighting took place during the night. The party is attacking the Israeli army with machine gun fire and "the fighting continues," according to the statement. 

The Gaza Health Ministry announced a new death toll of 42,227 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than a year ago.

Over the past 24 hours, 52 people have been killed, a ministry statement said, adding that 98,464 people have been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023.

A security source told L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south that Israeli soldiers infiltrated Abbasieh, near Ghajar, in the Hasbaya district, last night and rigged the village mosque with explosives before blowing it up.

Israeli forces destroyed the mosque in Kfar Tebnit, southeast of Nabatieh, in an airstrike in the past 24 hours. They had previously blown up the mosque in Yaroun and targeted the church in Derdghaya, near Sour, in which seven people were killed, including five medics. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to “withdraw” the soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from southern Lebanon.

In a statement, Netanyahu called for the peacekeepers to be withdrawn from “Hezbollah strongholds” in southern Lebanon, saying that any refusal would make them “hostages of Hezbollah.”

“The presence of UNIFIL endangers the lives of our soldiers,” said Netanyahu. He also recalled that he had “repeatedly” asked the U.N. to withdraw its troops from the border strip with Israel, but had been met with “repeated refusals, which only aim to provide a human shield” for the party's fighters, he said. 

More details here.

Hezbollah accused the Israeli army of having bombed the localities of Hanin and Tiri, in the southern Lebanese district Bint Jbeil, in the morning, with "missiles loaded with cluster bombs."

It was not immediately possible to verify whether such munitions had in fact been launched by the Israeli air force. 

More details here.

A shipment of medical aid from Saudi Arabia was received at Rafic Hariri International Airport, in the presence of the outgoing Minister of Economy, Amine Salam, his colleague at the Ministry of the Environment, Nasser Yassine, who is in charge of the emergency committee, the Secretary General of the High Relief Committee, Mohammad Kheir, and the Saudi ambassador to Beirut, Walid Boukhari.

The shipment is the first to arrive in Beirut as part of Riyadh's “airlift” of aid to Lebanon. 

The situation in south Lebanon

Israeli air raids targeted Khiam, the outskirts of Shebaa and Shamaa. Artillery fire also hit Dhaira.

The Israeli army has destroyed the mosque in Dhaira, in Sour, which lies 200 meters from the Blue Line, according to information from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah. This destruction was carried out “after an incursion from the Israeli site of Jardah."

During the night, the Israeli army had shelled the mosque of Kfar Tibnit, near Nabatieh, also destroying it completely. Last week, the Yaroun mosque in the Bint Jbeil district was destroyed.

Today, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a strike on the Tirat Carmel military base in southern Haifa, some 40 kilometers from the border with Lebanon. The attack was launched, according to the statement issued by the party, with missiles, as part of its series of “Khaybar” operations.

This series of operations was launched on Oct. 1, a few days after the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The attack was “in retaliation for the targeting of civilians and massacres committed” by Israel. In its statement, Hezbollah assures that it “remains ready to defend Lebanon and will not hesitate to do its duty to dissuade the enemy from its arrogance and aggression.”

Hezbollah announced that at 10 a.m. it had repelled a new Israeli "infiltration attempt by an infantry forces" "on the Kanaan heights, in Blida," a village in southern Lebanon, in Bint Jbeil.

Clashes took place "hand-to-hand, with machine-gun fire, resulting in death and injury."

The Israeli army announced that an officer and a reservist soldier had been "seriously wounded" today in southern Lebanon, in two separate "incidents," without specifying where. The soldiers were "evacuated" and hospitalized. 

The Israeli army, quoted by Haaretz, announced that it had "captured" a Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon. No further information was yet available.

The Israeli army announced that 70 rockets had been fired by Hezbollah at Israeli positions since midnight. It also said it had carried out operations throughout the night in southern Lebanon, attacking "200 Hezbollah targets, including missile launchers, anti-tank positions and arms depots."

Hezbollah reported three new attacks: At 5:30 a.m., it said it had targeted Israeli soldiers in the Zibdin barracks in the disputed Shebaa Farms; at 6 a.m., it had targeted soldiers in Shomera, opposite Ramaya.

At 10:10 a.m., it carried out an artillery strike against "a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Maroun al-Ras," in the Bint Jbeil district, in Lebanese territory. It was in the Maroun al-Ras park that Israeli soldiers had photographed themselves planting an Israeli flag last Tuesday. 

Civil Defense putting out a fire in a struck truck in Nabi Sheet. (Credit: Sarah Abdallah)

A series of Israeli strikes this morning targeted Barish, Ain Baal, Mansouri, Beit Lif, Alma Shaab, Wadi Houjeir, Mayfadoun and Bazourieh, according to information from our correspondent in south Lebanon.

In the Bekaa, a truck was targeted by an Israeli strike in Nabi Sheet, according to our correspondent Sarah Abdallah. Firefighters went to the scene to put out the fire that broke out in the vehicle after the shot was fired. No information was yet available on possible casualties or the contents of the targeted cargo. 

The Lebanese Red Cross announced this morning that an Israeli strike in Sarbine, south Lebanon, wounded four rescue workers. The rescue workers were part of a team dispatched to the village after an initial bombardment.

Read more here.

In the Bekaa, at dawn, an Israeli fighter jet struck near Younin, north of Baalbeck, without causing any casualties, according to our local correspondent Sarah Abdallah.

This morning, following warning sirens in Haifa, the Israeli army announced that it had intercepted "five rockets" launched at this major city in northern Israel and surrounding localities. 

In addition to the strikes and fighting around Ramaya, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several other attacks during the evening and night: At 11:30 p.m. against Israeli soldiers near the al-Marj site, opposite Markaba (Marjayoun), and against the Ramim position, near Kiryat Shmona, opposite Houla (Marjayoun).

At 12:15 a.m., the party also claimed responsibility for firing rockets at an Israeli artillery position in Mhalia, eight kilometers from the Blue Line, opposite Yarine (Sour), at 1:45 a.m. at Israeli soldiers in Menara, opposite Houla and at 3:15 a.m. at the Tel Shaar position opposite Rmeish (Bint Jbeil). 

During the night, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced that strikes on Saturday evening on a center of the Islamic Health Committee, Hezbollah-affiliated rescue workers, in Aitit and the Nabatieh center had wounded two and eight people respectively. 

In Kfar Tibnit, the village mosque and several surrounding houses were hit by Israeli aircraft, a bombardment that killed five people according to our correspondent's initial information. 

The night had also been violent, with exchanges of fire along the border, according to information from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.

Dhaira, Bint Jbeil, Qouzah, Kfar Shuba, Hanine, Shaqra, Kfar Kila, Aita al-Shaab, Ramaya, Jabal Blat and Khiam were hit by Israeli shelling and artillery fire. A building in Zifta, consisting of a warehouse and two stories, was completely destroyed in one strike.

Since dawn, Hezbollah has again carried out a series of attacks on Israeli positions in the area around Ramaya, including on the Zar'it barracks at 5:45 a.m. with "missiles and a Burkane missile."

Hezbollah fighters also targeted Israeli soldiers at Khallet Wardeh, opposite Aita al-Shaab, east of Ramaya, and an Israeli patrol at Shomera, "with missiles."

In the early hours of today, the Israeli air force carried out violent strikes, using several missiles, on the Shahabil area in Saida, a large city in southern Lebanon.

According to our correspondent in the region, Mountasser Abdallah, an empty residential building was targeted at around 2.30 a.m., resulting in four light injuries among the inhabitants of nearby buildings. This is the first time that this area of Saida has been targeted. 

At around 10:45 p.m., Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a "guided missile" strike on Israeli soldiers "attempting to infiltrate Lebanese territory" at Ramaya (Bint Jbeil).

This shot "caused deaths and injuries." Similar attacks were launched at 3:15 a.m., in the same area, against soldiers and an armored vehicle. At 3:45 a.m., fighters from the party "detonated a device as an Israeli patrol of soldiers passed by, attempting to infiltrate the Ramaya area." 

Fighting "with machine guns and medium-calibre weapons" ensued. An hour later, at 4:45 a.m., a new "explosive device" was detonated as Israeli soldiers provoked the "Tell Medawwar area of Ramaya, provoking further fighting with Hezbollah.

Yesterday evening, the Israeli army had declared areas around some towns in northern Israel closed to the public, after carrying out a security assessment, due to Hezbollah rocket and missile fire from Lebanon, Reuters reports.

It announced that closed military zones along the border with Lebanon would now include Zar'it, Shomera, Shtula, Netu'a and Even Menachem. These villages are located opposite the village of Ramaya, in the Bint Jbeil district, where the Israeli army tried to infiltrate during the night and where fighting took place between Hezbollah and Israeli soldiers.

Saturday was marked by violent Israeli raids on the south and the Bekaa, but also on regions not usually targeted by the Israeli air force. Bombing raids targeted Deir Billa, in the Batroun heights of northern Lebanon, Maaysra, a village in Kesrouan, and Barja, in the Chouf region, killing 15 people.