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Negotiations for second phase of cease-fire have begun, according to Hamas | Live

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The Trump administration has reportedly asked Congress to approve a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Israel will send a delegation to Qatar later this week to discuss the continuation of the cease-fire in Gaza.

Netanyahu was met again by Donald Trump today.

20:41 Beirut Time

According to our correspondent in North Lebanon, the “Department of Military Operations in Syria” continues to use bulldozers to close illegal crossings on the Syrian bank of the Nahr al-Kabir River, opposite the Lebanese border region of Wadi Khaled.

He added that the Lebanese Army had closed a large number of these illegal crossings on the Lebanese side of the border in order to stem smuggling operations.

18:57 Beirut Time

Civil Defense has found the remains of two people killed in Khiam (Marjayoun) during excavation work carried out in coordination with the Lebanese Army, their statement read. The remains have been transferred to the government hospital in Marjayoun, where DNA tests will be carried out.

18:41 Beirut Time

Photo provided by our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah.

A loud explosion took place in Yaroun, in the Bint Jbeil district, reports our correspondent. According to his information, the detonation was heard in neighboring towns and dense smoke was visible.

17:49 Beirut Time

The Israeli army blew up a house in Odaisseh, in the Marjayoun district, reports our correspondent.

17:34 Beirut Time

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a presidential memorandum today restoring "maximum pressure" on Iran, Reuters reported citing a U.S. official.

The directive is aimed at denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and countering Iran's "malign influence," the official added.

It directs the treasury secretary to impose "maximum economic pressure" on Iran, including sanctions and enforcement mechanisms on those violating existing sanctions.

The secretary of state will modify or rescind existing sanctions waivers and cooperate with the Treasury to implement a campaign "aimed at driving Iran's oil exports to zero," the official added.

15:34 Beirut Time

The Israeli army detained a Kfar Hamam resident in the Hasbaya district for about three hours, L'Orient Today's correspondent reported. It then released him and withdrew to one of its positions in the disputed Kfar Shouba heights.

15:32 Beirut Time

Hamas says negotiations on the second phase of a Gaza cease-fire deal have begun, a spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters.

14:21 Beirut Time

An Israeli drone fired several stun grenades near a team of rescuers from the Islamic Health Committee (affiliated with Hezbollah) who were recovering bodies in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. No injuries were reported.

13:45 Beirut Time

Two Israeli soldiers were killed at a military post by a sniper in the north of the occupied West Bank, where the army has been carrying out a large-scale military operation for several days, it said in a statement, reported by AFP.

In addition, "two reservists ... were seriously injured and six others slightly," the army added, a few hours after announcing that it had killed "a terrorist" who was firing "on a military post in Tayasir," east of Jenin, in the Jordan Valley.

13:38 Beirut Time

An Israeli drone launched two stun grenades toward Jibbein (Sour), L'Orient Today's correspondent reported. No casualties or damages were reported.

Separately, Israeli military vehicles advanced into the contested Kfar Shouba hills and towards Kfar Hamam (Hasbaya).

12:50 Beirut Time

The Lebanese army has completed its deployment in Taybeh (Marjayoun), L'Orient Today's correspondent reported. It is posted at the entrance to the village, towards the neighboring town of Rab al-Thalathine, and the village is "totally liberated" according to the president of the municipality of Taybeh.

"The army is inspecting the area to clear it of enemy violations. The residents are waiting in the village square for the army to allow them to return " to their homes, he told L'Orient Today.

Still in the Khiam plain, the Israeli army targeted a water purification installation, near Kfar Kila.

12:38 Beirut Time

An Israeli drone is flying over the eastern sector of the Bekaa, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

12:21 Beirut Time

The Israeli army set fire to homes in Rab al-Thalatine and Taybeh (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon, specifying that plumes of smoke are visible in the surrounding area.

At the same time, the Israeli air force carried out mock air raids over the regions of Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Touffah (Saida).

11:38 Beirut Time

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to discuss a "joint defense pact" in Ankara today, including the establishment of Turkish air bases in central Syria and military training for the new Syrian army, according to four informed sources cited by Reuters.

NATO member Turkey has long supported Syria's armed and political opposition to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in late December in a lightning offensive by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces.

Find the full details here.

11:31 Beirut Time

Israeli forces razed trees and fields in eastern Houla (Marjayoun) and burned some homes, L'Orient Today's correspondent reported.

In addition, Israeli military aircraft continue to fly over the region.

10:12 Beirut Time

The Israeli army said yesterday that it killed "a terrorist" during an exchange of fire in the north of the occupied West Bank, where it has been carrying out a vast military operation called "Iron Wall" for several days.

"A terrorist fired on soldiers at a military post in Tayasir," east of Jenin in the Jordan Valley, it said in a statement. "The soldiers exchanged fire with the terrorist and killed him," it added.

10:12 Beirut Time

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration asked Congress to approve the transfer of about $1 billion worth of bombs, armored bulldozers and other weapons to Israel.

According to the newspaper, these arms sales include 4,700 half-ton bombs (about 450 kg), worth more than $700 million, as well as armored bulldozers manufactured by Caterpillar, worth more than $300 million.

10:12 Beirut Time

Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, the first foreign leader invited to the White House since his return to power, at a delicate moment of resumption of negotiations on Gaza.

The American president recently sparked a wave of international indignation by proposing to "simply clean up" the Palestinian territory and transfer the Palestinians to "safer" places such as Egypt or Jordan, which they refused.

Leaving Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister said that by "working closely" with Donald Trump, it would be possible to "further redraw" the map of the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu also comes to Washington while Israel has been conducting a vast military operation in the north of the occupied West Bank since Jan. 21. To a journalist who asked him yesterday if he was in favor of the annexation of this territory by Israel, Donald Trump said: "I'm not going to talk about that," adding however that Israel was "a very small country in terms of territory."

10:12 Beirut Time

After 9 p.m. yesterday evening, the Israeli army carried out heavy explosions in Blida (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.

In addition, the municipality of Taybeh issued this announcement in the evening: "The Lebanese Army Directorate informed the municipality that it will fully deploy in the village on Tuesday, which it considers secure and liberated from the Zionist enemy."

The statement called on residents to join the soldiers on the ground to "remove the traces of the Israeli aggression." In a second statement issued later, however, the municipality told "those who live in the disaster area" not to go there today and to await the army's directives on site, "until the violations of the Zionist occupation are dealt with."

10:12 Beirut Time

15 Palestinian prisoners released under the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas have arrived in Turkey, Haaretz reported citing Hamas's Prisoners' Information Office. According to them, some of the prisoners are associated with the Palestinian movement, others with different organizations.

10:08 Beirut Time

Israel will send a delegation to Qatar "at the end of the week" to discuss the continuation of the ceasefire, as part of the second phase of the agreement with Hamas, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday evening, quoted by AFP.

The move follows talks in Washington between the Israeli prime minister and senior U.S. officials. Afterward, Netanyahu "will convene the security cabinet to discuss Israel's positions," the statement said.

10:03 Beirut Time

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