Bekaa
Israeli fighter jets bombed the outskirts of Hrabta and Sbouba, villages located in the Baalbeck district, and flew low over the city of Baalbeck. One of the strikes targeted the Qald al-Sabaa border crossing with Syria in the Hermel district. The jets then flew northward according to witnesses.
Southern Lebanon
Israeli warplanes bombed an area between Roumeen and Azzeh, in Nabatieh district, twice, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South reports. Fighter jets were also heard flying over Iqlim al-Touffah.
Residents of the southern Lebanese village of Rabb Thalathin inspect their devastated neighbourhoods as they return home following army deployment on Feb. 9, 2025. (Credit: Fadel Itani/AFP)
Gaza
Egyptian and Jordanian officials have raised concerns that the large-scale expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza into their countries could lead to the establishment of Hamas strongholds along their borders with Israel, Haaretz reports, citing senior security officials.
According to these sources, both countries have warned of potential consequences stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to expel Gaza's population to their lands.
Egyptian security officials fear that an influx of Hamas operatives into the Sinai region through Rafah Crossing could destabilize the border and threaten the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, while in Jordan, authorities stressed that the kingdom's political climate is already sensitive, especially following significant gains made by the Muslim Brotherhood in the parliamentary elections last September.
Bekaa
After around an hour of quiet at the Lebanon-Syria border, following an afternoon of intense clashes, the sounds of shelling and small-arm fire were heard once again in Hermel district as fighting appears to have resumed, according to reports from our correspondent in the Bekaa.
U.S. and the region
A new book from Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt reveals Iranian assassination threats against Trump were more serious than previously realized, Haaretz reports. According to information obtained by Isenstadt, law enforcement officials warned Trump last year that Tehran had placed operatives in the U.S. with access to surface-to-air missiles.
"Trump's team worried that the Iranians could try to down his easily recognizable personal jet — better known as "Trump Force One" — as it was taking off or landing," he writes.
After the assassination attempt on Trump in Florida, his "security detail was concerned enough about the Iran threat that it had Trump travel to an event on a decoy plane owned by Steve Witkoff," who would be later appointed as Trump's Middle East envoy.
Isenstadt also claims that that Trump refrained from discussing his assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani as often as threats intensified. "Staffers noticed that he talked about it less," the journalist wrote. "And privately, he began expressing more concern about the staging of his events."
Gaza
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that U.S. President Donald Trump was set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and possibly Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although he gave no dates for the talks.
The comments, delivered in an interview earlier today with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo, came in response to a question about Trump's recently unveiled proposal to take over and redevelop the Gaza Strip.
Gaza
Three Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces today, with the army claiming it had fired "warning shots," hitting Palestinians who had approached troops stationed in Gaza, the enclave's Civil Defense announced via its spokesperson Mahmud Bassal.
Bassal said there were "three martyrs and several injured as a result of Israeli occupation forces opening fire on civilians in the eastern areas of Gaza City," and urged residents to avoid this area and any Israeli military positions.
Israel's military acknowledged that its forces had fired at individuals who approached their positions, saying, "troops advanced military vehicles and fired warning shots toward the suspects. Several hits were identified after the shots were fired, and those approaching the barrier retreated."
In military terms, a warning shot is supposed to be intentionally harmless with the aim of forcing the target to retreat.
Bekaa
The Lebanese Army released a statement saying it was continuing to respond to attack launched against Lebanese territory from over the Syrian border, using "appropriate weapons." The army confirmed several recent strikes on the area close to the border and said that its soldiers have been ordered to return fire.
“The command is monitoring the situation and will take the necessary measures according to developments,” the statement reads, adding that reinforced security measures are in place including surveillance, patrols, and temporary roadblocks. Photos published alongside the statement show columns of military vehicles on patrol.
According to Al Jadeed, clashes appear to have died down into the evening, after more than two hours of incessant attacks during the fourth consecutive day of fighting.
Gaza
Omer Dostri, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that the Israeli negotiating team has arrived in Doha to continue talks on the Gaza cease-fire, Reuters reports, which contains three-phases that each require further negotiating in order to implement. The first phase was brought into effect on Jan. 17 for a period of 42 days, which ends on Feb. 28.
Southern Lebanon
In the Lebanese village of Yaroun, around 1.5 kilometers from the border with Israel in Bint Jbeil district, occupying Israeli troops are sweeping large areas with machine-gun fire and military vehicles can be heard maneuvering east of the village. The Israeli army has killed more than 60 people since the cease-fire came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024.
Bekaa
The outskirts of the Lebanese border village of Sahlat al-May, in Hermel district, was targeted with three mortal shells, at least one of which was fired from Qousseir, over the border in Syria. No injuring have been reported.
This is the fourth consecutive day of clashes along the border between Lebanese clans and Syria's new army, which launched a campaign Thursday to dismantle remnants of Hezbollah's supply route. At least four people have been killing and around a dozen injured since then.
Gaza
Five Thai nationals held captive by Hamas for more than a year returned to Thailand on Sunday, according to Reuters.
The returnees — Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao, and Surasak Lamnao — were dressed in winter jackets and welcomed by their families.
Bekaa
Clashes continue along the Lebanese-Syrian border, particularly from Joussieh to the Hermel highlands, between local Lebanese clans and Syria’s newly formed security forces, our correspondent in the region reported. The fighting involves machine gunfire as well as missile strikes from Matraba on the Syrian side.
The Akroum municipality urged residents to "exercise increased vigilance and avoid responding to suspicious calls." It added that it is in contact with security forces and reminded residents that "the army alone is responsible for protection."
Bekaa
Residents of Shawaghir (Hermel) blocked the road to tanker trucks transporting fuel destined for smuggling into Syria.
Hermel residents have repeatedly called for the closure of routes passing through the villages of Mansour, al-Qasr and Tal Sharqi, as well as all paths used by fuel tankers heading toward Syria.
Israel/Qatar
Qatar condemned a comment by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting the creation of a Palestinian state within Saudi territory, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement cited by Reuters.
Qatar, which plays a key mediating role in cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and Israel over Gaza, called Netanyahu's statement "provocative."
On Thursday, Netanyahu appeared to be joking when he responded to a journalist from Israel’s Channel 14 — a Netanyahu-friendly outlet — who mistakenly said "Saudi state" instead of "Palestinian state" before correcting himself.
Bekaa
Two drones operated by armed Syrian forces were shot down in Jermesh, in the Hermel district of the Bekaa, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Bekaa
"Violent clashes" are taking place at the Lebanese-Syrian border near Matraba between armed elements from Hermel and Syrian security forces, our correspondent in the region reported.
Bekaa
The Qard al-Sabaa crossing, in the Hermel highlands on the Lebanese-Syrian border, was targeted by grenades launched from Syria, a security source told our correspondent in the region.
Occupied West Bank
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that Israeli forces killed two Palestinian women, one of whom was eight months pregnant, in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army said it had "targeted terrorists" in the area.
Soundus Jamal Mohammad Chalabi, 23, was killed before dawn in the Nour Shams refugee camp, according to the ministry, which added that her husband, Yazan Abou Chola, was seriously wounded.
The young woman died upon arrival at the local hospital. "Medical teams could not save the baby's life due to the occupation [Israeli army] preventing the transfer of the wounded to the hospital," the ministry said in a statement.
Lebanon-Syria border
🔴 New Syrian security forces launched artillery strikes, from Qousseir, on the Lebanese-Syrian border reports our correspondent.
Strikes are also being launched from the Syrian town of Matraba, but no ground clashes are taking place on Hermel's borders, according to our information. “The militiamen are moving away from the borders and letting the Lebanese Army fight back," said local sources.
Clashes between the new Syrian security forces (former HTS fighters) and armed Lebanese clans have been taking place on the Lebanese-Syrian border for four days now. The Lebanese Army has deployed in the area. Yesterday, these clashes left three killed in Jenta (Hermel).
South Lebanon
The Lebanese Army has begun its deployment in Robb Thalathin, a village in the Marjayoun district, our correspondent reports. A bulldozer is clearing mounds of dirt at the village entrance.
Gaza
Hamas stated that the Israeli withdrawal from the Netzarim corridor “completes the failure of the war of extermination against our people” and, along with the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza and Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners, “disproves Netanyahu’s lie about a total victory.”
South Lebanon
The Lebanese Army has deployed in Robb Thalathin and Tallousseh in the Marjayoun district. It has instructed residents not to enter the area until the roads are cleared and unexploded ordnance is removed, our correspondent reports.
South Lebanon
Lebanese Army vehicles were involved in a traffic accident this morning while heading toward the Hojeir valley to deploy in the towns of Tallousseh, Robb Thalathin and Bani Hayyan in the Marjayoun district. Seven soldiers were injured, our correspondent in South Lebanon reports.
South Lebanon
The Israeli army is conducting a sweep from Tallet Hamames (Marjayoun) toward Wadi al-Assafir, near Khiam, our correspondent reports.
Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that negotiators would be sent to Qatar to discuss the next steps in the fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip following the release of three "physically weakened" hostages.
Netanyahu again vowed to “eliminate” Hamas and bring back the remaining hostages still held in Gaza, following the release of the three men in a staged handover.
One of the former hostages, 56-year-old Israeli-German citizen Ohad Ben Ami, is in a state of “nutritional distress,” Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital said last night after admitting him. The health condition of the other two, 34-year-old Or Levy and 52-year-old Eli Sharabi, is “poor” after 491 days in captivity, according to Yael Frenkel Nir, director of Sheba Hospital in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
⚡ Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on Feb. 27 to discuss the “grave” developments in Palestine, Reuters reports.
Trump/Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and “forcibly displace” Palestinians is a “serious threat” to the security and stability of the Middle East, Iran’s foreign minister said.
“Forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza is part of a colonial plot to destroy Palestine,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
“This represents a serious threat to the stability and security of the region,” he added in a phone call Saturday with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. “It is essential for Islamic countries to take a firm and unified stance” against this plan, Araghchi stressed.
Occupied West Bank
The Israeli army has expanded its military operation in the Nour Shams camp in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli military spokesperson said this morning, announcing an extension of the “Iron Wall” military operation in the occupied territory, according to Reuters.
The army, police, and intelligence services launched an “anti-terrorism operation” in Jenin on Jan. 21, which Israeli authorities described as a “large-scale and significant military operation.” The Israeli military said several “militants” had been killed and a number of wanted suspects had been arrested during the operation.
South Lebanon
The municipality of Tallouseh, in the Marjayoun district, has informed residents that the Lebanese Army will deploy in the village today, our correspondent in the South reports. Troops will inspect the area and neutralize any remaining unexploded bombs and munitions. “For now, do not go to the village to avoid obstructing the work, and follow the municipality’s instructions,” the statement concludes.
Meanwhile, in Blida, also in the same district, a previously announced public gathering has been canceled “pending further steps in coordination with the Lebanese Army.”
Good morning. Thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza and the events in the region.
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