Israeli airstrikes on numerous areas of southern Lebanon this evening killed nine people, according to a preliminary toll from the Ministry of Health. Five people were killed in the strike on Haris (Bint Jbeil), which also wounded two others, while the bombardment on Talloussa (Marjayoun) killed four people and wounded one.
These strikes were announced by the Israeli army shortly after Hezbollah fired rockets at an Israeli position on the disputed Kfar Shuba heights. This was the first operation claimed by the party since the cease-fire came into force on Nov. 27. The Israeli army has been bombarding, shooting and bulldozing the south almost daily since the cease-fire began.
The foreign ministers of France, the UK and Germany have called on Israel to ensure "unimpeded" humanitarian aid to Gaza in the face of the "catastrophic situation" there, the French ministry said.
The Israeli army said that "Israeli army warplanes carried out air strikes across Lebanon, targeting saboteurs, dozens of missile launchers and Hezbollah military infrastructure".
Warplanes also struck the rocket launcher site in Borghoz, southern Lebanon, which was used by Hezbollah to fire the two missiles, added the troop's Arabic-speaking spokesman Avichay Adraee.
Borghoz is located some 15 kilometers from the border.
He also said that "the firing of rockets towards Israel violates the cease-fire agreement" between Lebanon and Israel, which requires Beirut to "prevent Hezbollah from carrying out hostilities from its territory." He also stressed that the troops remain "ready to continue strikes if necessary and will continue to act to protect Israel's citizens."
Since the cease-fire, the Israeli army has fired almost daily into southern Lebanon.
For the second time today, the Israeli army struck Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, a locality close to the border with Syria in the Hermel region, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa. In the morning, a strike on this locality had wounded a Lebanese soldier.
Other strikes were reported on the heights of Wadi Zein, as well as on several border posts on the Syrian side, notably those of Joussi, Joubaniyeh and Hawz, in the south of Homs province.
"An Israeli navy ship has intercepted a drone in the Red Sea region, announces the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesman. The drone was neutralized before entering Israeli airspace."
A series of Israeli strikes targeted the heights of Iqlim al-Touffah, Jabal al-Rihane, and the area between Wadi Ezza and Houmine al-Fawqa, and another between Louaizeh, Jabal Safi and Mlikh.
The cease-fire in Lebanon has been broadly successful, the U.S. State Department said today, adding the United States and France will look at reports of potential violations in coming days.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing that Washington and Paris would engage with the Israeli and Lebanese militaries to look at reports of violations and deal with them through channels in the mechanism set up in the agreement.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss a Gaza cease-fire in a meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer today, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza were not released prior to his Jan. 20 inauguration.
"Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America," Trump said in a post on social media.
Israeli drones fly over Beirut, according to residents.
(Credit: Photo provided by our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)
An Israeli airstrike targeted an area between Houmine al-Fawqa and Deir Zahrani. A loud bang was heard, reported our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
"After [Hezbollah's] shot towards Mount Dov, Israel informed the U.S. of its intention to carry out a series of strikes in Lebanon," reported Israel's Kan radio.
"The Israeli army is currently attacking targets in Lebanon," said Arabic-speaking Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on X, adding that more details will be provided later.
The Biden administration is concerned the fragile cease-fire in Lebanon could unravel after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire in recent days, U.S. officials told Axios.
White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday that the "sporadic strikes" in recent days were expected. "There has been dramatic reduction in the violence. The monitoring mechanism is in full force and is working ... largely speaking the cease-fire is holding," he said.
But the Biden administration has privately expressed concern for the Israelis. "The Israelis have been playing a dangerous game in recent days," an American official told Axios.
A precarious calm settled over southern Lebanon after the latest Israeli strikes, according to our correspondent in the region.
Israeli security officials, quoted by Israeli army radio on X, said that the earlier firing into southern Lebanon was not in response to Hezbollah fire. "There will be another reaction later," they added.
Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced Monday that Lebanon's displacement crisis has eased, claiming that "the majority of the displaced have returned with dignity to their towns and villages.”
To find out more, press here.👈
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of "serious violation" of the cease-fire in Lebanon, adding that Israeli will respond firmly.
Today, Hezbollah fired mortar shells at Mount Dov site. This came after continuous Israeli violations of cease-fire for the past 6 days.
Hezbollah does not plan to send fighters to northern Syria to support the Syrian army there, three sources close to the party told Reuters today. The sources said that Hezbollah had not yet been approached in this regard and was "not ready to send forces to Syria at this stage."
A Pentagon spokesman said that, despite a few incidents, the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah is still holding, reported Reuters.
Hamas said 33 hostages had been killed in the almost 14-month war between Israel and Gaza, without specifying their nationalities, reported Reuters.
More updates from southern Lebanon:
- The Israeli army is detonating areas in the east of Halta (Hasbaya), specifically in the areas of Shanouh Farms and Rebaa al-Teben, south of Kfar Shuba.
- An Israeli airstrike targeted Hanine in the Bint Jbeil district.
- An Israeli drone strike targeted a car in the Jezzine district.
Updates from southern Lebanon:
- An Israeli airstrike and gunfire targeted Yaroun (Bint Jbeil).
- An Israeli airstrike bombed the village of Borghoz (Hasbaya).
- Israeli artillery fire targeted the al-Dahr area on the outskirts of Rashaya al-Foukhar.
- One person was killed , and two others injured with one in critical condition, in the Israeli drone strike on Tallouseh, reported earlier, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
- An Israeli airstrike bombed Maroun al-Ras.
- Heavy Israeli machine-gun fire targeted the neighborhoods of Aitaroun.
"We promised to act against any violation of the cease-fire by Hezbollah — and that is exactly what we will do," stated Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on X.
"Hezbollah's firing at the Israeli army post in Mount Dov will be met with a harsh response," he added.
Israeli artillery fire targeted Kfar Shuba and Shebaa, in the Hasbaya district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Hezbollah made a "serious mistake" firing into Israel and Israel must respond with a "powerful blow," reproted Reuters.
An Israeli drone struck Tallouseh (Marjayoun), injuring several people, according to our correspondent in the southern Lebanon.
Israeli artillery fire targeted Khiam (Marjayoun) and the Bastara farm, near Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), in southern Lebanon.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "devastated and outraged" by the death of Israeli-American soldier, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023 during the Hamas attack and whose body was held in Gaza, according to the Israeli army.
"To all the families of those still held hostage: We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong," Biden added in a statement relayed by AFP.
On Wednesday, at 3 p.m. [New York time, 10 p.m. Beirut time], the U.N. Security Council will meet at the request of France and the United States to discuss the cease-fire deal between Lebanon and Israel, according to information obtained by L'Orient Today.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, will address the Council.
Delegations from the Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas are meeting in Cairo to "reach a mutual understanding" on the Palestinian Authority's management of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war with Israel, Egypt's foreign minister stated today.
"There are indeed two delegations from the Fatah and Hamas movements in Cairo consulting and deliberating to quickly reach a mutual understanding regarding the management of daily affairs in the Gaza Strip under the full control of the Palestinian Authority," Badr Abdelatty told a news conference in Cairo.
For the first time since the cease-fire with Israel, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a shell fired at the Roueissat al-Alam site in the disputed Kfar Shuba hills.
"Following the repeated violations by the Israeli enemy of the cessation of hostilities agreement, which came into effect at dawn on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, which takes many forms, including firing at civilians and airstrikes in different parts of Lebanon, which led to the martyrdom of citizens and the injury of others, in addition to the continued violation of Lebanese airspace by hostile Israeli aircraft up to the capital Beirut, and since the reviews of the concerned authorities to stop these violations did not succeed, the Islamic Resistance carried out this Monday evening a first defensive warning response targeting the Roueissat al-Alam site," the party's statement read.
Hezbollah fired two shells into the Mount Dov area, according to Israeli army radio. According to the station, the shells fell in an open area, without causing any casualties.
Our correspondent in southern Lebanon also reported that shells fell in the vicinity of Roueissat al-Alam, in the disputed Kfar Shuba hills.
Hezbollah has not claimed the attack yet. However, if it does, this would be the first time that Hezbollah has carried out an attack against Israel since the cease-fire was announced on Nov. 27.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held talks with U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, who is tasked with leading the committee monitoring the cease-fire with Israel.
According to the state-run National News Agency, the two men discussed the committee's mission. Mikati stressed "the need for full commitment to the cease-fire, the prevention of security violations and the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from the occupied Lebanese territories."
Here are the latest developments in south Lebanon:
- An Israeli armored force, accompanied by a Merkava tank, entered the Shanouh farm on the outskirts of Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya) and combed the area.
- An Israeli drone targeted the village of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun).
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected accusations that Israel is violating Lebanon's truce with Hezbollah.
"We hear that Israel is violating the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon" that came into effect on Nov. 27. "On the contrary, Israel is enforcing it" in response "to Hezbollah's violations that call for immediate action," he said in a statement.
The situation in south Lebanon:
- Heavy Israeli machine gun fire targeted the village of Halta (Hasbaya), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
- An Israeli bulldozer began destroying part of the Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil) mosque. Bulldozers also operated in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun).
- The Israeli army carried out explosions in the Ras al-Dahr neighborhood, west of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun).
Air France told AFP that its flights between Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Tel Aviv would remain suspended until at least Dec. 31 inclusive, and those to Beirut until Jan. 5 inclusive, "due to the security situation at the destination."
Air France-KLM's low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until Jan. 6 inclusive, according to the airline group.
Air France stopped operating flights to Beirut after the simultaneous explosion of beepers used by Hezbollah across Lebanon on Sept. 17. The airline also stopped flying to Tel Aviv from Paris on Sept. 30.
"We are closely following what is happening in Syria and we will ensure that the Iranian regime does not exploit the situation in that country to try to transfer weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syrian territory," Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.
"Hezbollah suffered a defeat in the last battle. We must ensure that it does not smuggle weapons into Lebanon through Syrian territory," he continued.
The village of Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil) was hit for the second time today by two 155mm shells, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Five vehicles and a bulldozer from the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) are trying to open the Mais al-Jabal-Shaqra road, west of the village of Mais al-Jabal, after an Israeli force closed it with mounds of earth, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
An Israeli force is still stationed on the hills of the village.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar "the need for all parties to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon," according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry.
The phone conversation comes as several Israeli strikes have targeted Lebanon since the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on Nov. 27.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri denounced a "flagrant violation" by Israel of the terms of the cease-fire agreement that came into effect on Nov. 27 in Lebanon, as drone strikes and gunfire continued to target southern Lebanon throughout the day.
In a statement, Berri, who negotiated the agreement on behalf of Lebanon, also called on the international committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the terms of the cease-fire to "urgently launch its mission and force Israel to cease its violations and withdraw from the territories it occupies." This committee is made up of Washington, France, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese and Israeli armies.
Read the full story here.
One person was slightly injured in a drone strike in Ainata, near the municipal headquarters, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
A Hamas delegation discussed a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip with Egyptian officials in Cairo, two officials from the Palestinian movement told AFP.
A meeting was also held on Sunday under the auspices of Egypt between representatives of the Palestinian Islamist movement and the rival Fateh Movement to address the issue of governance of Gaza once the war with Israel is over, said one of these two officials and Jamal Obeid, a member of the Fateh leadership in Gaza.
Read the full story here.
The Israeli unit that was advancing on the area of Doubieh, east of Mais al-Jabal, withdrew after carrying out a "search" operation, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. At the same time, Israeli vehicles and tanks were reported in the vicinity of the government hospital in Mais al-Jabal.
Several units remain stationed on the surrounding hills and occasionally fire artillery from these positions.
The health ministry in Gaza announced a new death toll of 44,466 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel nearly 14 months ago.
At least 37 people have been killed in the past 24 hours, he said in a statement, adding that 105,358 people have been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
According to information from L'Orient Today's correspondent, the victim of the attack on Jdeidet Marjayoun was called Mahdi Khreiss and was originally from Khiam.
The victim of the drone strike on a moped in Jdeidet Marjayoun was a State Security agent, according to information from L'Orient Today's correspondent.
An Israeli infantry unit, accompanied by several vehicles and bulldozers, advances towards the Doubieh neighborhood, west of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun) in the direction of the village of Shaqra (Bint Jbeil). Shaqra is located approximately seven kilometers from the Blue Line.
The Lebanese Health Ministry announced that one person was killed in an Israeli strike on Jdeidet Marjeyoun reported earlier. The drone strike targeted a person on a motorbike near the town's power station, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
In Soue, bodies that had been temporarily buried by their relatives in the city were transferred by ambulances to villages in the region, now accessible after the cease-fire, to be buried there, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
The Gaza Strip, where the war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for more than a year, now has "the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in Cairo.
"Many are losing limbs and undergoing surgery without even anesthesia. What we are witnessing could well be one of the most serious international crimes," he said, speaking at a ministerial conference in Cairo to accelerate humanitarian aid to the devastated Palestinian territory.
"The situation in Gaza is appalling and apocalyptic," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a ministerial conference in Cairo to speed up humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, which has been plunged into war for 13 months.
"The catastrophe in Gaza is nothing less than a total breakdown of our common humanity. The nightmare must end. We cannot continue to look the other way. It is time to act," he said in a speech read by Amina Mohammed, the U.N.'s deputy secretary-general.
The Israeli army struck a moped near the Marjayoun power station with a missile fired from a drone, injuring several people.
Two other drone strikes targeted Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil).
Drones also continue to fly over south Lebanon.
Israeli artillery fire targeted Shebaa (Hasbaya).
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent, around fifteen tanks and military vehicles have withdrawn since yesterday evening from several districts inside Khiam, towards the south of the village.
Iran plans to keep its "military advisers" in Syria to support the Syrian government in the face of an offensive launched since Wednesday by rebel groups against the country allied to the Islamic Republic, Iranian diplomacy announced.
"The presence of Iranian advisers in Syria is not new, it existed in the past and will continue in the future, with certainly ... the will of the Syrian government," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai announced during his weekly briefing. The spokesperson did not specify whether Iran would increase its troops in Syria or not.
The Israeli army announced the death of one of its soldiers, killed on Oct. 7, 2023 during the Hamas attack on Israel and whose body was taken to Gaza, where it still remains.
The army authorized the publication of the name of "Captain Omer Maxime Neutra, aged 21 at the time of his death ... a soldier who fell in combat [whose body is] held by a terrorist organization," a military statement said.
Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until Jan. 31.
The Lebanese army said that an Israeli drone strike on a military bulldozer carrying out work at a military center near the Haoush al-Sayyed Ali border crossing in Hermel, in the north of the Bekaa, had injured a soldier. L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa had reported shortly before a drone strike on the Syrian side of the border, at the same location.
An Israeli drone strike targeted the Haoush al-Sayyed Ali border crossing, north of Hermel, on the Syrian side of the border, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. This area has been targeted on numerous occasions since the end of September, like other crossings between Lebanon and Syria.
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent, an Israeli drone is flying at low altitude over the heights of Anti-Lebanon and the regions of Taraya, Hadath Baalbeck, and Shmestar.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced yesterday that it was suspending the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip from the key crossing point with Israel of Kerem Shalom, as the delivery had become "impossible".
"We are suspending the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main humanitarian aid crossing point in Gaza," a "difficult decision ... as hunger is rapidly worsening" in the territory torn apart by war for nearly 14 months, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.
Islamic Jihad in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp announced the death of two of its fighters in fighting along the border, before the cease-fire. The Lebanese Red Cross managed to recover their remains yesterday. They are Abdallah Mohammad Zir, aged 20, and Omar Kamel Ghoutani, aged 19. The Islamic Jihad statement did not specify where the two young men were killed.
Last night, the remains of a Lebanese Navy officer were found in his car in Ras Naqoura. According to information obtained by L'Orient Today's correspondent, the soldier may have been killed in a drone strike on his car about a week ago. The Civil Defense, accompanied by the Lebanese army, moved the body.
Last night in south Lebanon only say machine gun fire in the direction of the Naqoura region.
The Israeli army announced last night that it had killed Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, a few days after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Shiite party came into force. In a statement, the army said it had acted in the last 24 hours to "eliminate threats" in "violation of the conditions of the cease-fire agreement." It specified that its troops, present in southern Lebanon, had "identified" and fired on "several armed terrorists near a church and eliminated them," without specifying where. The army also said it had located a tunnel "containing weapons."
The army also posted, once again, the map identifying the area that it "forbids access" to the inhabitants of south Lebanon, which extends for about ten kilometers north of the Blue Line.
"Until further notice, we warn you not to move south of this line, which is demarcated by the villages of Shebaa, Hebbarieh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Qantara, Shaqra, Baraasheet, Yater and Mansouri." It also calls on residents not to return to a series of villages located in this area.
Make sure to read the Morning Brief so you are caught up with what has been happening.
Good morning!
Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the ongoing war in Gaza and the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon.
You have reached your article limit
The region is transforming.
Stay informed for $1 only!
This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers.
Already have an account? Login here