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Iran/United States
Citing an anonymous senior Iranian official, Reuters reported that the Iranian Supreme Leader has ordered the military to be placed on high alert. According to this official, Tehran fears it has only about two months to reach an agreement with the United States, as prolonged negotiations could prompt Israel to launch an attack against Iran. The official contacted by Reuters believes that this would lead to the reimposition of all international sanctions on Iran.
Gaza
Tens of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets today to protest Israel's latest offensive in Gaza, voicing their anger against U.S. President Donald Trump, who was at the center of their demands, according to Haaretz.
This is the largest protest Morocco has seen in months, the Israeli daily noted.
South Lebanon
Civil Defense rescuers found the body of another victim of Israeli airstrikes during the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Kfar Hammam (Hasbaya). The remains were transferred to the Marjayoun government hospital for identification.
Lebanon
The U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, did not set a deadline for the disarmament of Hezbollah during her visit to Lebanon, according to information obtained by L'Orient-Le Jour.
South Lebanon
The Lebanese Army announced in a statement that it had removed obstacles erected in the villages of Alma al- Shaab and Labbouneh (Sour district) and dismantled two explosive devices "used by the enemy [Israel] to booby-trap these obstacles."
"The Army Command continues to work on eliminating enemy violations in close coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon [UNIFIL], while the Israeli enemy continues its attacks on several regions of Lebanon and its violations of the security of the Lebanese people," the army added in its statement published on X.
Israel/Iran
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed a correspondence between Iran and Hamas leaders, which he claims serves as proof of Iran's support for the Oct. 7 attack carried out by Hamas, according to Haaretz.
The correspondence reportedly involved written communication between Iran and Hamas officials Mohammad Deif and Yahya Sinwar, who allegedly "demanded and received $500 million from the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for the destruction of Israel and the fight against the United States."
The minister made these statements today during a visit to the Israeli Defense Forces unit responsible for intelligence gathering and technical equipment.
Israel
The rehabilitation division of the Israeli Ministry of Defense reported that over 16,500 soldiers have been injured since the start of the war on Oct. 7, with 7,300 of them suffering from psychological trauma, including depression, adjustment difficulties, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, according to Haaretz.
The division is treating more than 78,000 disabled veterans from the Israeli Defense Forces, stemming from all wars and Israeli operations (including those injured during the ongoing war). Of these, 26,300 are suffering from various emotional traumas.
South Lebanon
The two individuals killed in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a bulldozer in Zibqine today (Sour district) have been identified as Adnan Fadel Bzeih and Ali Salibi, according to our correspondent in the South. Ali Salibi had been injured during the Hezbollah pager attack last September.
Israel/Hungary
Leaving Hungary after an official visit that began earlier in the week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the country led by Viktor Orban as "a very great friend of Israel," as reported by Haaretz.
Benjamin Netanyahu specifically praised Budapest's decision to be "the first country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court during this visit," as the court had issued arrest warrants against both the leader and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu is now set to travel to the United States.
Gaza
26 people were killed and 113 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, with figures also reported by Haaretz and Wafa News.
According to the statement, 1,335 people have been killed in Israeli military attacks on Gaza since the collapse of the cease-fire on March 18, while 3,297 have been injured.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war, 50,695 Gazans have been killed and 115,338 have been injured, according to the ministry.
South Lebanon
Lebanon's Ministry of Health has confirmed the death toll of two people in the Israeli airstrike on a bulldozer in Zibqine.
South Lebanon
Two people were lightly injured in the village of Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil district) by the explosion of an unidentified object while they were clearing the rubble of a house.
According to our correspondent in the South, the object may have been a bomb dropped during the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
South Lebanon
The toll from the Israeli airstrike that targeted a bulldozer in Zibqine (Sour district) about two hours ago has now risen to two dead, according to our correspondent in the south.
One of the victims had previously lost an eye and suffered a hand injury during a Hezbollah pager attack organized by Israel last September, our correspondent adds.
Israel
The Israeli government submitted its response to the Israeli Supreme Court regarding petitions against the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, stating that the relationship between the current head of Israel's internal security service and the government had reached an "irreversible break" and that "each additional day in this situation could cause irreparable harm to the state's security and the peace of its citizens," according to Haaretz.
Earlier this week, the Israeli executive asked Ronen Bar's deputy to temporarily take over the leadership of Shin Bet.
South Lebanon
During a visit to Sour district, the head of the South Lebanon Council, Hachem Haidar, stated that "the debris clearance work [following Israeli bombings during the war, ed.] had been delayed due to certain administrative obstacles, the latest of which was conducting an environmental impact study on designated landfill sites," according to local media.
However, he noted that these "obstacles have been overcome, and the work began recently."
"This week, work will begin in several Lebanese regions, particularly in the south," he said. "The contractor [appointed] has been given a two-month deadline to complete the work quickly in preparation for the start of the reconstruction phase," he added, expressing hope that the necessary funding will be secured to allow residents to return to their villages.
South Lebanon
The Israeli strike on the village of Zibqine (Sour district) has ultimately left four people injured, two of whom are in critical condition, according to a second report from our correspondent in the South. Shortly after, he reported that the strike had also resulted in at least one death.
Lebanon
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus met this morning with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Karim Souhaid, and Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Bsat, according to a statement from Yassine Jaber's office.
The statement clarified that the discussions focused on the reforms Lebanon must implement in order to convince the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to accept the country into a financial assistance program. A meeting between Lebanese representatives and those from the IMF is scheduled during the spring meetings organized by the IMF and the World Bank in Washington from April 21 to 26.
Israel
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Israel last night of deporting two Labour MPs — women, according to the press — upon their arrival at the international airport of the Jewish state, as part of an official visit.
Gaza
French President Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday a trilateral summit on the situation in Gaza with his Egyptian counterpart, Fattah al-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, during his visit to Egypt on Monday and Tuesday.
"In response to the emergency in Gaza and as part of my upcoming visit to Egypt at the invitation of President al-Sisi, we will hold a trilateral summit with the Egyptian president and the King of Jordan," he stated on the social media platform X.
South Lebanon
Reports claiming that an Israeli drone targeted a van in the village of Naqoura (Sour district) are false, according to our correspondent in the south.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone targeted a bulldozer conducting rehabilitation work in the village of Zibqine (Sour district), according to our correspondent in the south. No casualties have been reported.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone targeted a bulldozer conducting rehabilitation work in the village of Zibqine (Sour district), according to our correspondent in the south. No casualties have been reported.
Israel/United States
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House tomorrow to discuss a range of issues, from tariffs to Iran, his office announced yesterday.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone is reported to have targeted a van in Naqoura (Sour district), but no casualties were reported, according to the National News Agency. Our correspondent is still awaiting formal confirmation of the incident.
Lebanon
A Lebanese Army plane was seen flying over several villages in Nabatiyeh, according to our correspondent in the south.
In southern Lebanon, a fragile calm prevailed overnight despite a few incidents:
- Israeli artillery fired a flare from a newly established position between the villages of Houla and Markaba (Marjayoun district), linked to the five sites Israel continues to occupy in southern Lebanon.
- A small Israeli drone dropped a grenade between the villages of Taybeh and Robb Thalathin (Marjayoun district).
- Locals reported seeing an Israeli bulldozer, accompanied by several vehicles, constructing earth mounds on the outskirts of Shebaa (Hasbaya district).
In Lebanon, U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Representative of President Donald Trump for Middle East Peace, is continuing her tour today with meetings planned with the new governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Karim Souhaid, and Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, likely focused on the economic reforms the country must implement. She is also expected to hold a press conference later in the day.
Yesterday, MTV reported that the envoy hosted a dinner at the U.S. embassy in Awkar with five ministers from the Nawaf Salam government: Fayez Rassamny (Public Works), Joe Saddi (Energy), Joe Issa Khoury (Industry), Fadi Makki (Administrative Development) and Kamal Chehadeh (Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence).
Arriving on Friday, Morgan Ortagus also held positive meetings with Lebanese officials yesterday, according to information obtained by L'Orient-Le Jour.
➡️ More details here
In Yemen, Houthi rebel media reported Saturday night that one person was killed and several others wounded in new strikes in the northern part of the country, attributed to the United States.
"A citizen was killed and four others were injured in the U.S. attack on a solar energy store in the Hafsin district, west of the city of Saadah," reported the Saba news agency and Al-Massirah channel.
➡️ Read more here
The main news this morning:
Iran rejected direct dialogue with the United States today, stating that it "would make no sense," as U.S. President Donald Trump suggested talks without intermediaries and threatened to bomb the country if diplomacy failed.
➡️ Latest developments here
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the situation in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. We will also cover the situation in Gaza, where the Israeli army is intensifying its airstrikes, as well as in Israel, the occupied West Bank, Yemen and Syria.
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