This concludes our live coverage today.
We will resume reporting tomorrow.
South Lebanon
The Israeli army claimed that the strike it carried out earlier in southern Lebanon on Arnoun (Nabatieh district) "eliminated a Hezbollah member involved in rebuilding the organization's terrorist infrastructure in the area."
The strike had targeted a crane working in the area. For more on the strike and other Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, press here.👈
South Lebanon:
In an update on Israeli artillery fire targeting Jabal al-Sadana, south of Shebaa (Hasbaya district), our correspondent reported 15 shells hitting the area.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone has crashed in the Almaan-al-Shoumariya in the Marjayoun district, our correspondent reported. The Lebanese Army is following up on the incident and inspecting the area.
Gaza cease-fire
A senior Hamas official has confirmed that the group is in direct talks with the U.S. over peace in Gaza, stating that it believes Donald Trump could help broker a deal.
Speaking to Sky News' lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Basem Naim said Hamas has shared its proposed agreement both through mediators and "directly with some persons in the U.S. administration."
Hamas is calling for "a prisoner exchange, total withdrawal of Israeli forces, allowing all the aid to get into Gaza and rebuilding of [the] Gaza Strip without forceful immigration," he said.
"We have also told the Americans, we are ready to, again, to hand over the government immediately if we reach an end of this war," he said.
Naim added Hamas has "accepted" an Egyptian peace proposal which "is talking about forming a Palestinian, independent, politically unaffiliated body to run the Gaza Strip".
"Before that, as long as we are still occupied people, we have all the right to continue defending our people and resisting the occupation with all means including under resistance," he said.
Gaza
The Israeli military and Shin Bet security service announced that they killed Jasser Hussein Ali Shamieh, "a Hamas terrorist responsible for raising funds for Hamas' military wing and former battalion commander in Hamas' Gaza Brigade."
According to the statement, Shamieh was responsible for transferring tens of millions of dollars to the group's military wing.
The army also announced that Israel struck more than 130 targets throughout the Gaza Strip over the past two days.
So far, Palestinian rescue workers in the enclave have counted at least 100 people killed in Israeli bombardments today, AFP reported.
Iran-U.S.
The top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that the Iranian nation considered him the "murderer" of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, Reuters reported.
Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the elite Revolutionary Guards. He was killed in Iraq in a drone strike on January 3, 2020, ordered by Trump during his first term in office.
Trump had said earlier that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Israeli artillery fire targeted Jabal al-Sadana, south of the town of Shebaa (Hasbaya), with ten shells, according to our correspondent in the south.
The person injured in the drone strike between Arnoun and Yohmor, in the district of Nabatieh in South Lebanon, has succumbed to his injuries, according to information from our correspondent and the Health Ministry.
The victim has been identified as Mohammad Marouni.
An Israeli drone struck a crane on the road between Arnoun and Yohmor, in the district of Nabatieh, killing one man, reports L'Orient Today's correspondent. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the strike.
Gaza: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of turning the blockade into 'tool of extermination'
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of turning the blockade of the Gaza Strip into “a tool of extermination,” as the Israeli authorities have blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory since March 2.
“The blockade imposed by Israel has gone beyond military tactics to become a tool of extermination,” said Federico Borello, acting executive director of the NGO, in a statement in which he also criticized "plans to squeeze Gaza's 2 million inhabitants into an even smaller area, while rendering the rest of the territory uninhabitable."
U.S. President Donald Trump has landed in Abu Dhabi for the final visit of his regional tour, according to Al-Jazeera.
West Bank: Five people killed in Israeli military operation in Tamoun
Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army operation in Tamoun, a village in the north of the occupied West Bank, the mayor told AFP.
“The [Israeli] occupation forces killed five young men after laying siege to a house in the village center,” said the mayor, Samir Qteichat. “The occupying army took away four bodies, and we found a fifth martyr, his body charred, after the occupying forces left,” he added.
No details of the reasons for the raid were immediately available.
Hamas accuses Israel of 'undermining' mediation efforts with military operations
Hamas has accused Israel of “undermining” mediation efforts to end hostilities in Gaza, as it intensifies military operations.
“The war criminal Netanyahu is undermining mediation efforts with a deliberate military escalation, showing no regard for his captives and endangering their lives,” Hamas said in a statement, as Palestinian Civil Defense reported 103 killed by Israeli strikes so far today.
Trump says Qatar to invest $10 billion in US base at Al-Udeid
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in the U.S. military base it hosts at Al-Udaid, the largest in the region.
Qatar will “invest 10 billion to support this imposing base in the years to come,” he told troops during his visit, which hosts the U.S. military's Middle East Central Command (CENTCOM), AFP reports.
Trump says priority is 'ending conflicts, not starting them'
U.S. President Donald Trump said in Qatar on Thursday that his priority is “to end conflicts, not start them,” during his visit to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.
“As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them. But I would never hesitate to deploy American forces, if necessary, to defend the United States of America or its partners,” he told troops in Qatar, as part of his Gulf tour, reports AFP.
At least 82 killed by Israeli strikes today
The Palestinian Civil Defense announced Thursday, in a new report, that Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 82 people since the beginning of the day.
"The number of casualties from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 82 after Israel targeted several homes in the northern Gaza Strip," a civil defense spokesperson, Mohammed al-Moughayir, told AFP.
(Credit: Hezbollah's press office)
Funeral of Hezbollah member killed by Israeli strike
A funeral was held in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh) for the killed Hezbollah member Jaafar Ali Yassin, "with a solemn procession," Hezbollah said in a statement.
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South, Yassin was killed two days ago in Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh). It is unclear if he was targeted by an Israeli drone or if he was killed by an old unexploded ordnance in the area. Another man alongside him was injured.
A ceremony was held at the town’s entrance, followed by the funeral procession through the streets, with members of the party carrying the coffin, according to Hezbollah. The procession included local figures, religious scholars, families of the fallen and many residents.
Two Israeli drones are flying loudly at low altitudes over Saida, Ghazieh and surrounding villages, local residents reported to our correspondent.
Israel strikes Kfar Kila
An Israeli drone struck a house in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district) while the owner was in the outdoor yard, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South. No injuries were reported.
Yemen: Trump says Washington can 'resume offensive' in the event of a Houthi attack
U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Washington could “resume the offensive” in the event of an attack by Yemen's Houthis, even though a cease-fire ended weeks of U.S. strikes on May 6.
“We are dealing with the Houthis, and I think that's a success, but an attack may come tomorrow, and in that case, we will resume the offensive,” he said.
Trump says US should 'take' Gaza and turn it into 'freedom zone'
President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wanted the United States to “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone,” reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone,” Trump said in Qatar, adding: "I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone."
European Hospital in Gaza put out of commission by Israeli strike
Gaza's Health Ministry said Thursday that the European Hospital in Gaza is out of commission because of Israel's airstrike on Tuesday that killed at least 16 Palestinians. The Israeli army said the attack was an assassination attempt on Hamas' leader in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar.
"The European Hospital in Gaza is not operational as a result of the latest attacks. The strike caused substantial damage to infrastructure, such as sewer lines, damage to internal wards and roads leading to the hospital," the health ministry said in a statement.
"The European Hospital in Gaza is the only hospital providing medical check-ups for cancer patients in the territory," the statement added.
Trump says Washington and Tehran “getting closer” to Iran nuclear deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said in Doha that Washington and Tehran were “getting closer” to a deal on the Iranian nuclear issue, expressing optimism that military strikes on Iranian sites could be avoided.
“We're not going to make nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump asserted from Qatar. “I think we're getting closer to a deal,” he added.
Trump says “historic” Gulf tour could generate up to $4 trillion
Trump said at a meeting with business leaders in Doha that his Gulf tour could generate up to $4,000 billion in contracts.
“This is a historic tour. There has never been a tour that could bring in a total of $3,500 billion to $4,000 billion in just four or five days,” he said.
Trump expected in Abu Dhabi, final stop on Gulf tour
After high-profile visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to conclude his Gulf tour in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, a trip marked by major economic announcements and a dramatic intervention in Syria.
Trump hinted he may change plans and travel to Turkey on Thursday — if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also there — to discuss the war in Ukraine, as requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Nuclear: Iran will accept deal in exchange for sanctions relief, says Supreme Leader’s adviser
Iran is ready to accept a nuclear deal with the United States in exchange for the immediate lifting of sanctions, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told U.S. network NBC News on Wednesday.
Under President Trump, the U.S. adopted a "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, imposing new sanctions while negotiating with Tehran, which has been seeking relief from measures that have severely strained its economy.
According to NBC News, Shamkhani said Iran would commit to never developing nuclear weapons, eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, restrict uranium enrichment to civilian-use levels, and allow international inspectors to monitor the process — if all economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic were lifted immediately.
34 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn
Palestinian Civil Defense reported this morning that 34 people were killed on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Most of the fatalities occurred in the Khan Younis governorate in southern Gaza, the organization said.
New U.S.-Backed NGO pledges aid deliveries to Gaza
A newly formed humanitarian NGO, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), announced Wednesday that it aims to begin distributing aid in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip by the end of May.
No humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since March 2, despite the territory’s 2.4 million residents' dire need for it. Several organizations — including the U.N., Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam — have warned of the risk of “mass famine” if the Israeli military continues blocking aid.
The foundation, which was registered in Geneva in February, was publicly endorsed by the U.S. last week, though the country has not clarified whether it is providing direct support.
Israeli army bombs prefabricated houses in southern Lebanon
In recent hours, the Israeli military has struck prefabricated buildings in border villages in southern Lebanon using drone-fired missiles. On Wednesday at around 10 p.m., a drone hit a structure affiliated with the "Wa Taawanou" association in Houla, in the Marjayoun district. The strike was followed by helicopter-fired missiles targeting the same area.
On Thursday morning, a similar strike hit another prefabricated building in Odaisseh, also in Marjayoun.
Late Wednesday night, machine-gun fire from an Israeli military position on Lebanese soil — at Jabal Blat near Aitaroun — targeted an area near Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil district.
Good morning, thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the events in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and the region. Make sure to read today's Morning Brief to catch up on yesterday and today's key events.
This concludes our live coverage today.
We will resume reporting tomorrow.
South Lebanon
The Israeli army claimed that the strike it carried out earlier in southern Lebanon on Arnoun (Nabatieh district) "eliminated a Hezbollah member involved in rebuilding the organization's terrorist infrastructure in the area."
The strike had targeted a crane working in the area. For more on the strike and other Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, press here.👈
South Lebanon:
In an update on Israeli artillery fire targeting Jabal al-Sadana, south of Shebaa (Hasbaya district), our correspondent reported 15 shells hitting the area.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone has crashed in the Almaan-al-Shoumariya in the Marjayoun district, our correspondent reported. The Lebanese Army is following up on the incident and inspecting the area.
Gaza cease-fire
A senior Hamas official has confirmed that the group is in direct talks with the U.S. over peace in Gaza, stating that it believes Donald Trump could help broker a deal.
Speaking to Sky News' lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Basem Naim said Hamas has shared its proposed agreement both through mediators and "directly with some persons in the U.S. administration."
Hamas is calling for "a prisoner exchange, total withdrawal of Israeli forces, allowing all the aid to get into Gaza and rebuilding of [the] Gaza Strip without forceful immigration," he said.
"We have also told the Americans, we are ready to, again, to hand over the government immediately if we reach an end of this war," he said.
Naim added Hamas has "accepted" an Egyptian peace proposal which "is talking about forming a Palestinian, independent, politically unaffiliated body to run the Gaza Strip".
"Before that, as long as we are still occupied people, we have all the right to continue defending our people and resisting the occupation with all means including under resistance," he said.
Gaza
The Israeli military and Shin Bet security service announced that they killed Jasser Hussein Ali Shamieh, "a Hamas terrorist responsible for raising funds for Hamas' military wing and former battalion commander in Hamas' Gaza Brigade."
According to the statement, Shamieh was responsible for transferring tens of millions of dollars to the group's military wing.
The army also announced that Israel struck more than 130 targets throughout the Gaza Strip over the past two days.
So far, Palestinian rescue workers in the enclave have counted at least 100 people killed in Israeli bombardments today, AFP reported.
Iran-U.S.
The top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that the Iranian nation considered him the "murderer" of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, Reuters reported.
Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the elite Revolutionary Guards. He was killed in Iraq in a drone strike on January 3, 2020, ordered by Trump during his first term in office.
Trump had said earlier that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Israeli artillery fire targeted Jabal al-Sadana, south of the town of Shebaa (Hasbaya), with ten shells, according to our correspondent in the south.
The person injured in the drone strike between Arnoun and Yohmor, in the district of Nabatieh in South Lebanon, has succumbed to his injuries, according to information from our correspondent and the Health Ministry.
The victim has been identified as Mohammad Marouni.
An Israeli drone struck a crane on the road between Arnoun and Yohmor, in the district of Nabatieh, killing one man, reports L'Orient Today's correspondent. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the strike.
Gaza: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of turning the blockade into 'tool of extermination'
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of turning the blockade of the Gaza Strip into “a tool of extermination,” as the Israeli authorities have blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory since March 2.
“The blockade imposed by Israel has gone beyond military tactics to become a tool of extermination,” said Federico Borello, acting executive director of the NGO, in a statement in which he also criticized "plans to squeeze Gaza's 2 million inhabitants into an even smaller area, while rendering the rest of the territory uninhabitable."
U.S. President Donald Trump has landed in Abu Dhabi for the final visit of his regional tour, according to Al-Jazeera.
West Bank: Five people killed in Israeli military operation in Tamoun
Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army operation in Tamoun, a village in the north of the occupied West Bank, the mayor told AFP.
“The [Israeli] occupation forces killed five young men after laying siege to a house in the village center,” said the mayor, Samir Qteichat. “The occupying army took away four bodies, and we found a fifth martyr, his body charred, after the occupying forces left,” he added.
No details of the reasons for the raid were immediately available.
Hamas accuses Israel of 'undermining' mediation efforts with military operations
Hamas has accused Israel of “undermining” mediation efforts to end hostilities in Gaza, as it intensifies military operations.
“The war criminal Netanyahu is undermining mediation efforts with a deliberate military escalation, showing no regard for his captives and endangering their lives,” Hamas said in a statement, as Palestinian Civil Defense reported 103 killed by Israeli strikes so far today.
Trump says Qatar to invest $10 billion in US base at Al-Udeid
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in the U.S. military base it hosts at Al-Udaid, the largest in the region.
Qatar will “invest 10 billion to support this imposing base in the years to come,” he told troops during his visit, which hosts the U.S. military's Middle East Central Command (CENTCOM), AFP reports.
Trump says priority is 'ending conflicts, not starting them'
U.S. President Donald Trump said in Qatar on Thursday that his priority is “to end conflicts, not start them,” during his visit to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.
“As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them. But I would never hesitate to deploy American forces, if necessary, to defend the United States of America or its partners,” he told troops in Qatar, as part of his Gulf tour, reports AFP.
At least 82 killed by Israeli strikes today
The Palestinian Civil Defense announced Thursday, in a new report, that Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 82 people since the beginning of the day.
"The number of casualties from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 82 after Israel targeted several homes in the northern Gaza Strip," a civil defense spokesperson, Mohammed al-Moughayir, told AFP.
(Credit: Hezbollah's press office)
Funeral of Hezbollah member killed by Israeli strike
A funeral was held in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh) for the killed Hezbollah member Jaafar Ali Yassin, "with a solemn procession," Hezbollah said in a statement.
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South, Yassin was killed two days ago in Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh). It is unclear if he was targeted by an Israeli drone or if he was killed by an old unexploded ordnance in the area. Another man alongside him was injured.
A ceremony was held at the town’s entrance, followed by the funeral procession through the streets, with members of the party carrying the coffin, according to Hezbollah. The procession included local figures, religious scholars, families of the fallen and many residents.
Two Israeli drones are flying loudly at low altitudes over Saida, Ghazieh and surrounding villages, local residents reported to our correspondent.
Israel strikes Kfar Kila
An Israeli drone struck a house in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district) while the owner was in the outdoor yard, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South. No injuries were reported.
Yemen: Trump says Washington can 'resume offensive' in the event of a Houthi attack
U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Washington could “resume the offensive” in the event of an attack by Yemen's Houthis, even though a cease-fire ended weeks of U.S. strikes on May 6.
“We are dealing with the Houthis, and I think that's a success, but an attack may come tomorrow, and in that case, we will resume the offensive,” he said.
Trump says US should 'take' Gaza and turn it into 'freedom zone'
President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wanted the United States to “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone,” reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone,” Trump said in Qatar, adding: "I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone."
European Hospital in Gaza put out of commission by Israeli strike
Gaza's Health Ministry said Thursday that the European Hospital in Gaza is out of commission because of Israel's airstrike on Tuesday that killed at least 16 Palestinians. The Israeli army said the attack was an assassination attempt on Hamas' leader in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar.
"The European Hospital in Gaza is not operational as a result of the latest attacks. The strike caused substantial damage to infrastructure, such as sewer lines, damage to internal wards and roads leading to the hospital," the health ministry said in a statement.
"The European Hospital in Gaza is the only hospital providing medical check-ups for cancer patients in the territory," the statement added.
Trump says Washington and Tehran “getting closer” to Iran nuclear deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said in Doha that Washington and Tehran were “getting closer” to a deal on the Iranian nuclear issue, expressing optimism that military strikes on Iranian sites could be avoided.
“We're not going to make nuclear dust in Iran,” Trump asserted from Qatar. “I think we're getting closer to a deal,” he added.
Trump says “historic” Gulf tour could generate up to $4 trillion
Trump said at a meeting with business leaders in Doha that his Gulf tour could generate up to $4,000 billion in contracts.
“This is a historic tour. There has never been a tour that could bring in a total of $3,500 billion to $4,000 billion in just four or five days,” he said.
Trump expected in Abu Dhabi, final stop on Gulf tour
After high-profile visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to conclude his Gulf tour in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, a trip marked by major economic announcements and a dramatic intervention in Syria.
Trump hinted he may change plans and travel to Turkey on Thursday — if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also there — to discuss the war in Ukraine, as requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Nuclear: Iran will accept deal in exchange for sanctions relief, says Supreme Leader’s adviser
Iran is ready to accept a nuclear deal with the United States in exchange for the immediate lifting of sanctions, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told U.S. network NBC News on Wednesday.
Under President Trump, the U.S. adopted a "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, imposing new sanctions while negotiating with Tehran, which has been seeking relief from measures that have severely strained its economy.
According to NBC News, Shamkhani said Iran would commit to never developing nuclear weapons, eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, restrict uranium enrichment to civilian-use levels, and allow international inspectors to monitor the process — if all economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic were lifted immediately.
34 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn
Palestinian Civil Defense reported this morning that 34 people were killed on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Most of the fatalities occurred in the Khan Younis governorate in southern Gaza, the organization said.
New U.S.-Backed NGO pledges aid deliveries to Gaza
A newly formed humanitarian NGO, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), announced Wednesday that it aims to begin distributing aid in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip by the end of May.
No humanitarian aid has entered Gaza since March 2, despite the territory’s 2.4 million residents' dire need for it. Several organizations — including the U.N., Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam — have warned of the risk of “mass famine” if the Israeli military continues blocking aid.
The foundation, which was registered in Geneva in February, was publicly endorsed by the U.S. last week, though the country has not clarified whether it is providing direct support.
Israeli army bombs prefabricated houses in southern Lebanon
In recent hours, the Israeli military has struck prefabricated buildings in border villages in southern Lebanon using drone-fired missiles. On Wednesday at around 10 p.m., a drone hit a structure affiliated with the "Wa Taawanou" association in Houla, in the Marjayoun district. The strike was followed by helicopter-fired missiles targeting the same area.
On Thursday morning, a similar strike hit another prefabricated building in Odaisseh, also in Marjayoun.
Late Wednesday night, machine-gun fire from an Israeli military position on Lebanese soil — at Jabal Blat near Aitaroun — targeted an area near Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil district.
Good morning, thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the events in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and the region. Make sure to read today's Morning Brief to catch up on yesterday and today's key events.
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