The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that an artillery shell struck its Western Sector headquarters in Chamaa during the afternoon. No peacekeepers were injured in the incident, and only minor damage was reported to the gymnasium, UNIFIL said in its statement.
UNIFIL added that "Italian demining experts swiftly secured the area and conducted a controlled detonation." The force also emphasized that "deliberate attacks against peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701."
The Israeli Air Force carried out multiple strikes in the Baalbek region, targeting the outskirts of Zboud, the periphery of Nabi Chit, and the heights of Janta, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa.
Italy has confirmed that an unexploded artillery shell landed on the base of its UNIFIL contingent, and Israel has pledged to investigate the incident, according to Reuters.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani contacted his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, to protest against attacks on Italian personnel and infrastructure within UNIFIL. Tajani emphasized that the security of UNIFIL soldiers must be guaranteed. In response, Saar assured an "immediate investigation" into the matter.
Violent clashes occurred today between Hezbollah and Israeli army forces in southern Lebanon near Tayr Harfa and Chamaa in the Sour district, according to local sources cited by our correspondent. Israeli forces entered Lebanese territory in this area and were repelled by Hezbollah after being bombarded with artillery near the archaeological citadel of Chamaa.
Additionally, a shell reportedly struck a command center of a Hezbollah unit in the western sector this afternoon while an Italian contingent of UNIFIL was present in Chamaa, the same sources indicated.
UNIFIL issued a brief statement in the evening: "A UNIFIL convoy heading toward the headquarters in Naqoura was involved this morning in a road accident along the coastal road near the village of Chamaa. Unfortunately, a French peacekeeper passed away, and three others sustained minor injuries in the accident." The U.N. force did not mention the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.
Israeli artillery targeted Rachaya el-Foukhar in Hasbaya, while an airstrike hit Tiri in the Bint Jbeil district.
For the seventh time today, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack targeting a gathering of Israeli forces on the outskirts of Tallousseh, in the Marjeyoun district, carried out at 8:00 p.m. with a barrage of missiles.
The Israeli army stated in a post on X that it "carried out strikes on Hezbollah terrorist targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut." The statement added that "a stockpile of rockets and 15 launchers, including one used to fire projectiles toward central Israel, were destroyed in southern Lebanon during the day."
The latest developments in southern Lebanon:
- According to local sources cited by our correspondent, Israeli forces that penetrated Lebanese territory near Tayr Harfa and Chamaa (Sour) were repelled by Hezbollah after ‘intense clashes.’ The forces had to retreat after being targeted by the party's artillery and air power near the archaeological citadel of Chamaa.
- Israeli airstrikes hit Ain Qana in the Iqlim el-Touffah region of Sour, killing five people — a couple and their three children.
- From 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. this afternoon, Israeli airstrikes targeted 22 localities and villages across southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack carried out at 6:00 p.m. on Israeli soldiers gathered in Doviv, northern Israel, opposite Chebaa (Hasbaya), using a salvo of missiles.
59 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Thursday, bringing the total death toll since October last year to at least 3,445, with 14,599 wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday
Hezbollah targeted an Israeli army gathering on the outskirts of Tallousseh, in the Marjeyoun area, at 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with a salvo of missiles. Four similar attacks had been carried out earlier in the day.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on Israeli troops in Baram, located opposite Rmeich (Bint Jbeil), with a missile salvo at 6 p.m. The group also targeted Israeli soldiers near Maroun el-Ras (Bint Jbeil), at the same time, for the second time.
In the Bekaa, the Israeli air force targeted Qlayaa, according to our correspondent in the region.
The latest developments in southern Lebanon are as follows:
- Israeli airstrikes targeted Houmieh el-Faouqa in the Nabatieh region, according to local residents. A house in Jebchit, in the same region, was also hit.
- Additionally, Israeli forces struck Qabrikha and Wadi Hojeir in the Marjeyoun district, as reported by locals. Other areas like Majdel Selm, Qana, and Khiam were also struck.
Here’s an update on the security situation in southern Lebanon:
- Israel targeted Qabrikh and Wadi al-Hujier (both located in the Marjayoun district), local residents reported.
- Israel targeted homes in the towns of Qabrikha, Majdal Selm, Khiam (all located in the Marjayoun district), and Qana (Sour), local residents reported.
Hezbollah targeted an Israeli gathering of soldiers for the second time at the Israeli site of Yaron, across from Yaroun (Bint Jbeil), with a salvo of rockets at 6 p.m. At the same time, they also targeted enemy soldiers at Manara, in northern Israel.
🔴 Several local media outlets, including Lebanon Debate and al-Jadeed, report an Israeli airstrike on Ghobeyri, one hour after the Israeli army issued an evacuation order to the residents of a building in this southern Beirut suburb.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli army said that "an Israeli who was attacked, and his car set on fire in the West Bank village of Abu Dis, near Jerusalem, was safely transported back into Israel."
Israeli warplanes carried out multiple strikes on Jwayya, in the Sour district of southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent.
The Directorate General of Civil Defense at the Ministry of Interior announced that “its specialized search and rescue teams successfully concluded debris-clearing operations at the site of the Israeli airstrike on the Baalbeck Regional Civil Defense Center in the town of Douris.”
“As of 4:30 p.m. today, the final toll from the search efforts includes the recovery of the bodies and remains of 14 martyrs, while one injured individual remains under necessary medical care at the Baalbeck Regional Hospital,” the statement said.
The Directorate “extended its deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and to their colleagues in the Civil Defense, praying for strength and patience during this difficult time.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Lebanon has condemned "an alarming escalation in the human toll from Israeli airstrikes in densely populated areas of Lebanon," according to a statement relayed by Reuters.
Hamas fighters attacked Israeli troops in northern Gaza, killing three soldiers in the besieged city of Beit Lahia.
"Fighters from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigade successfully killed three Zionist soldiers at close range near the Abbas Kilani roundabout, north of Beit Lahia," the armed group said in a statement published on its Telegram channel.
In southern Lebanon, Israel struck Naqoura (Sour) and Khiam (Marjeyoun), according to residents. Three people were killed in the Israeli strike on the neighborhoods at the eastern entrance of Sour.
🔴 The Israeli army has issued a new evacuation order, the fourth of the day, to residents of a building in Beirut's southern suburbs, this time in the Ghobeyri neighborhood.
Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Doviv barracks, opposite Shebaa (Hasbaya), "with a precision-guided drone strike, hitting the target accurately," at 3:30 p.m.
The latest developments in South Lebanon according to our correspondent:
- The Israeli army struck an area near the Rachidieh Palestinian refugee camp, south of Sour, and another strike on the town of Hanin (Bint Jbeil), according to local residents.
- It also dropped white phosphorus bombs on the outskirts of Bazourieh and Ain Baal (Sour), between orchards and nearby homes, according to residents.
Hezbollah targeted, for the fourth time today, an Israeli army gathering on the eastern outskirts of the town of Talousseh (Marjayoun) at 03:45 p.m., with a missile strike.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on a gathering of Israeli forces in the western outskirts of Jibbein (Sour) at 1 p.m. "The attack was carried out using a guided missile, causing deaths and injuries among enemy forces," the party stated.
It also reported targeting Israeli troops again at the Amra Gate, in the southern outskirts of Khiam (Marjeyoun), at 3 p.m., with a salvo of missiles.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to welcome the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.
The ministry pointed out 170 countries voted in favor of the resolution including states “that have evolved their positions to support this fundamental right”.Only
Israel, the United States and four others voted against it, while nine countries including Palau and Tonga abstained.
The resolution is welcome “at a time when the Palestinian people are facing genocide and ongoing violations of all their rights, including the right to self-determination”, the ministry said, adding this gives hope to Palestinians that the world is ready to “confront genocide, colonial settlement expansion, and settler terrorism.”
The Israeli army claims to have carried out "two waves of attacks" on Beirut’s southern suburbs since this morning, targeting "Hezbollah buildings hidden among the civilian population," according to Avichay Adraee on X.
The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson added that they struck "weapons depots, a command headquarters, and other terrorist infrastructure" belonging to the party during these raids. He also noted that strikes were carried out yesterday against "transit points linked to the Syrian regime at the Syrian-Lebanese border, used to bring weapons to Hezbollah."
The latest developments in southern Lebanon according to our correspondent
- Israeli aircraft struck neighborhoods at the eastern entrance to Sour.
- An Israeli drone struck the northern outskirts of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district.
- The Israeli air force broke the sound barrier on two occasions, whose detonations were heard throughout the region.
In its 15th and 16th statements of the day, Hezbollah announced that at 2:30 p.m. and again at 3 p.m., it had fired salvos of rockets at gatherings of Israeli forces on the eastern outskirts of the locality of Tallousa, in the Marjayoun district, in southern Lebanon. These were the second and third operations of this type announced today in the area.
Hezbollah claimed to have targeted a gathering of Israeli forces on the eastern outskirts of the town of Tallousa (Marjayoun) in southern Lebanon with a salvo of rockets at 2:15 p.m.
The party also targeted Israeli troops on the southern outskirts of the town of Markaba (same district) with a rocket attack at 1:15 p.m. At 2:20 p.m., the party targeted enemy soldiers at the Amra gate, south of Khiam, in the same district.
Israel targeted a house in Sir al-Gharbiyeh (Nabatieh), local residents reported, according to information from our correspondent.
The area of Horsh Ali Taher, east of Nabatieh Fawqa, was also bombed, as was Arab Salim, in Iqlim al-Tuffah (also in Nabatieh).
A new Israeli strike has targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, in the Jamous area of Haret Hreik, according to the official National News Agency (NNA).
According to the agency, the strike that took place shortly before targeted a building in Hadath, near Kafaat and the al-Mahdi school.
Both strikes followed calls for evacuation from the Israeli army.
The Israeli army is encouraging the looting of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, in particular by attacking Palestinian police forces who are trying to combat it, accuse 29 NGOs in a joint report.
“Looting is a recurring problem, a consequence of Israel's targeting of the remaining police forces in Gaza, the shortage of essential goods, the lack of roads and the closure of most crossing points and the resulting despair of the population in these disastrous conditions,” point out these NGOs, including Médecins du monde, Oxfam and the Norwegian refugee council (NRC).
⚡ An Israeli strike has targeted the upscale Mazze district in Damascus, the official Syrian news agency Sana announced, the second such raid in two days.
“An Israeli aggression targeted Mazze,” said the agency, referring to the district which is home to embassies, security institutions and U.N. headquarters. The day before, deadly strikes targeted the same district, as well as the town of Qoudsaya on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.
An Israeli strike targeted the Hadath neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, according to local media.
In southern Lebanon, according to information from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah
- Six people were killed in strikes on Khiam (Marjayoun).
- An air raid targeted the outskirts of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh).
- Israeli fighter jets fired two missiles at Sammaaiyeh, one strike targeted Bazourieh and others Deir Qanoun al-Ain, Majdal Zoun and Malikieh, localities in the Sour district.
- Further strikes targeted Froun and Hanine (Bint Jbeil).
Hamas is “ready” for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and is calling on Donald Trump to “put pressure” on Israel to end its military operations, a senior official of the Palestinian movement told AFP.
“Hamas is ready to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip in the event that a cease-fire proposal is presented and on condition that (Israel) respects it,” said a member of its political bureau, Bassem Naim, calling on "the U.S. administration and Trump to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop the aggression" in Gaza.
Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati receiving Ali Larijani, advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, at the Grand Serail on Nov. 15, 2024. (Credit: @grandserail/X)
Lebanon's outgoing Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, called on Iran “not to favor one side over another” and to avoid taking positions that might affect the “sensitivities” of either side, during a meeting with Ali Larijani, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Larijani indicated that Tehran would support “any decision taken by the resistance and the Lebanese government,” denying any intention to “sabotage” the cease-fire talks.
Read more about Larijani's meeting with the Lebanese politicians here.
After meeting with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Larijani stated Iran would support the “resistance” – referring to Hezbollah – in all circumstances, and back the group’s stance in ongoing cease-fire talks.
“We are not looking to sabotage anything. We are after a solution to the problems,” said Larijani.
An update on Hezbollah attacks against Israeli positions and attempted infiltrations
- Hezbollah targeted Dishon, opposite Rmeish (Bint Jbeil), with a rocket salvo at 10 a.m.
- The party targeted a gathering of Israeli forces at the eastern outskirts of the town of Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil) with a rocket salvo at 10:30 a.m. Hezbollah also said it targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the town of Maroun al-Ras at 2 a.m. “with a large, precision-guided drone, hitting its target accurately and causing confirmed casualties."
- Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in Sa'sa, opposite Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) with a rocket salvo at 11:30 a.m.
Update on the Hezbollah attacks against Israeli positions and attempted infiltrations
- Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli forces, twice this morning, on the eastern outskirts of the town of Markaba (Marjayoun), in Lebanese territory, with a salvo of rockets at 8:30 and 10:30 am.
- The party targeted the Tirat Carmel base in southern Haifa with a salvo of advanced rockets at 9 a.m.
- Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in Misgav Am, opposite Adaisseh (Marjayoun) with a salvo of rockets at 7 a.m.
- The party targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Yiftah barracks, opposite Blida (Marjayoun), with a salvo of rockets at 7:30 a.m.
The Israeli army again called on residents of several southern suburbs to evacuate “immediately” in anticipation of strikes against “Hezbollah infrastructure.”
This is the third series of Israeli threats on the suburbs since 6:30 this morning. In Hadath, the building identified by the army is located near the “al-Mahdi” school. In Haret Hreik, it is located in the neighborhood of the “Crazy Nuts Jamous” store, according to maps published on X by spokesperson Avichay Adraee.
The situation in southern Lebanon, according to information from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah:
- A drone strike has targeted Khiam (Marjayoun). Since yesterday, four people have been killed in this locality.
- Mahmoudieh (Jezzine) was also bombed.
- One person was killed in Ainata (Bint Jbeil).
- Two air raids targeted Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh), without causing any casualties.
This morning, the Islamic Jihad released a new video of Israeli hostage Sacha Trupanov, two days after the release of a first video.
In this clip, the young man, identified in Wednesday's video by his relatives, addresses the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shass party, Arie Dery, a member of the government coalition, asking him to contribute to his release and that of the other hostages still in captivity in Gaza.
After a meeting at the Grand Serail with outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Najb Mikati, Ali Larijani, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arrived in Ain al-Tineh to meet the head of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri.
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The Israeli strike in Ghobeiri targeted a building in the Tayyouneh area, opposite Horsh Beirut Park, according to NNA. The detonation was heard in the capital.
The governor of Baalbeck-Hermel, Bashir Khodr, paid tribute to Bilal Raad, the regional civil defense chief killed the previous day in an Israeli strike on Douris.
“I used to call you after every bombing to follow the rescue operations,” Khodr wrote on X. “Who am I going to call now? Who will put out the fires in the hearts struck by aggression?” he wondered, accompanying his post with a photo of the victim, a ‘martyr-hero,' according to the governor.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a strike using precision missiles (referred to in its statement as “quality missiles”) on the Tirat Karmel base, south of Haifa, some 40 kilometers from the border with Lebanon.
The strike was part of the party's “Khaybar” series of operations, launched after the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27, and the missiles were fired as fighters chanted “Labayka ya Nasrallah” (At your command, Nasrallah).
In southern Lebanon, Israeli aircraft hit a house in Ansarieh, in the Saida district, Jbaa (Nabatieh), and five houses in Tibnin (Bint Jbeil). Artillery fire targeted a residential area in Shebaa (Hasbaya) and Khiam (Marjayoun).
Burj al-Barajneh, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, was hit by Israeli aircraft, according to local media.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense within the Interior Ministry announced that eight Civil Defense personnel had been killed in last night's strike on Douris, on a Civil Defense center “in which there were personnel ready to respond to calls for help and intervene immediately to assist citizens.”
The victims came from various centers in the region. Three others were also injured and are being treated at the Baalbeck government hospital. Rescue and clearing operations are continuing at the site of the strike to find any missing persons, according to the directorate.
For the second time this morning, the Israeli army called on residents of two neighborhoods in Beirut's southern suburbs, specifically Burj al-Barajneh and Ghobeiri, to evacuate, in anticipation of strikes.
“You are near Hezbollah infrastructure,” warned Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, in a message on X, calling on residents of two buildings and the surrounding area to "evacuate immediately at least 500 meters away."
The two buildings targeted are located in Burj al-Barajneh near the al-Burj stadium and in Ghobeiri near the headquarters of internet provider IDM (Inconet Data Management).
The president of Baalbeck municipality, Mustapha al-Chall, paid tribute to the head of Civil Defense for the region, Bilal Raad, killed the previous day in an Israeli strike on an organization center, along with at least 11 other firefighters. He was “impulsive and in love with Baalbeck and its people,” Chall wrote in a statement. “We will miss you for your enthusiasm and sense of duty, whatever the risks.” Extending his condolences to the families of the victims of the strikes on the city, the mayor added that “the continued aggression and massacres” by the Israeli army “will only strengthen our resolve.”
The head of the Lebanese Civil Defense for the Baalbeck-Hermel districts, Bilal Raad, was killed in last night's Israeli strike on a relief organization center in Douris, according to information from our correspondent in the Bekaa, Sarah Abdallah.
Hezbollah also carried out a rocket strike on the western outskirts of Tayr Harfa, in Sour, in Lebanese territory, claiming to have targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers.
Hezbollah claimed overnight responsibility for several attacks against northern Israel. It claimed to have struck with rockets:
- Israeli soldiers in Kiryat Shmona (opposite Houla, Marjyoun);
- Shraga barracks (administrative headquarters of the Golani Brigade command), north of Acre.
- As a reminder, at 10:20 p.m. last night, the party announced that it had attacked for the first time the Tel Haim base, linked to the Israeli army's intelligence services, 120 km from the border in Tel-Aviv, with “qualitative missiles,” the expression used by Hezbollah to refer to its precision-guided missiles.
In southern Lebanon, the Israeli army hit Tayr Harfa (Sour) several times, with air raids and artillery fire. The air force also bombed Khiam (Marjayoun), Rashaya Fawqar, Wadi Berghoz, Kfar Hammam (Hasbaya), Tibnin, in the Bint Jbeil district, on five occasions, Jbaa (Nabatieh) and Burj Rahal (Sour), according to information from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.
Commenting on this morning's strikes, the president of Ghobeiri municipality, Maan Khalil, told the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar channel that in less than 48 hours, 11 Israeli bombings had targeted the neighborhood. He confirmed that the outskirts of the municipal headquarters had been targeted and that the raids had caused “heavy damage.” “We will not move and will rebuild what has been destroyed,” he added.
According to the official National News Agency (NNA), two of this morning's strikes were carried out using drones. The third missile was fired from a fighter jet. This third bombardment was “very powerful.” The area targeted was close to the municipality of Ghobeiri.
New Israeli bombardment on the southern suburbs.
According to local media, the force of these strikes destroyed several buildings in Ghobeiri.
Barely an hour after the Israeli army's warning, at least two air raids hit the southern suburbs of Beirut. Detonations were heard in the surrounding area.
However, there were no Israeli strikes in the area on Thursday night.
Since the beginning of the week, the Israeli air force has been pounding several neighborhoods in the southern suburbs of the capital, at all hours of the day and night.
After the Israeli army's threats, heavy gunfire was heard in the southern suburbs of Beirut and especially in Ghobeiri, calling on the inhabitants to evacuate.
The day began with the Israeli army sending out a new evacuation call at 6:20 a.m. concerning the area around two buildings in the Ghobeiri district, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
“For your safety and that of your family members, you must evacuate these and adjacent buildings immediately, and move at least 500 meters away from them,” Israeli army Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X. As usual, he attached to his message two maps identifying the buildings the Israeli air force was preparing to strike. The two buildings are both near the Bustan school, close to the al-Harj military cemetery.
Good morning,
We are launching our live coverage of Day 406 of the Gaza war and Day 405 of the Lebanon war and their repercussions in the region.
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