That’s it from us for tonight. Thanks for following along. We’ll be back tomorrow with more updates and coverage. Stay safe and see you then.
Israeli army says it intercepted missile fired from Yemen
The Israeli army announced that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory, after loud explosions were heard in the sky over Jerusalem.
"Following the sounding of sirens in several regions of Israel a short while ago, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the army said in a statement.
Gaza – Israeli evacuation orders in Khan Younis
The Israeli army has issued an evacuation order for residents of a neighborhood in Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, where Israel has been at war with Hamas for nearly 20 months.
Israeli forces will "operate with full force" in certain areas where "terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas, continue their activities," wrote Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X. He urged residents: "For your safety, evacuate immediately westward to al-Mawassi."
South Lebanon – Lebanese Army repositions in Aita al-Shaab
At 7:30 p.m. Beirut time, Majed Tahini, the mokhtar (local official) of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil district), told our South Lebanon correspondent that the Lebanese Army has redeployed to two military positions on the outskirts of the town, which it had previously vacated during the war.
The first position, known as Hadab Aita, is located in the al-Hadab area just a few meters from an Israeli post. The second is at the al-Qouzah village junction and had also been abandoned at the start of the conflict. According to the mokhtar, the army has also returned to the center of Aita al-Shaab.
He added that the Lebanese Army removed the flag of Israel's Golani Brigade, which had been flying over Hadab Aita.
In coordination with Aita al-Shaab’s municipality, the army also cleared dirt mounds and reopened the road leading to the Hadab Aita and Khallet Wardeh sites, our correspondent reported.
A cease-fire, which took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah that began on Oct. 8, 2023. It includes provisions for the gradual Israeli withdrawal from villages occupied in South Lebanon, enabling the Lebanese Army to deploy in areas formerly under Hezbollah influence. However, the Israeli army still occupies five positions it deems strategic:
- Labbouneh/Alma al-Shaab (Sour district)
- Jabal Blat near Ramieh (Bint Jbeil district)
- Jal al-Deir, south of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil)
- A position along the Markaba-Houla road (Marjayoun district)
- Hamames Hill near Khiam (also in Marjayoun)
South Lebanon
The Israeli army, positioned at the "Radar" site, opened fire with machine guns on the outskirts of Shebaa (Hasbaya district), according to our correspondent in the South.
After six months of closure, the Damascus stock exchange reopens its doors
The Damascus Stock Exchange reopened after six months of closure, providing the Syrian government with an opportunity to anticipate doubling its investments by the end of the summer.
"Today's reopening of the Damascus Stock Exchange marks a crucial step in the economic recovery process," the chairman of the stock exchange's board of directors, Fadi Jleilati, told AFP, while highlighting the challenge of "integrating into global financial markets." 14 of the 28 listed companies resumed trading on Monday.
The stock exchange has reopened in new premises located in a complex of modern buildings in Yaafour, near the capital.
It had closed a few days before the capture of Damascus by an Islamist coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad.
At least 14 killed in Israeli strike on Jabalia
The Gaza Civil Defense announced the deaths of 14 people in an Israeli bombing of a home in Jabalia, a town in the north of the Palestinian territory.
"The number of martyrs ... has risen to 14, including six children and three women, in addition to the 20 people still under the rubble," Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told AFP.
First FlyDubai flight lands in Damascus
After more than 12 years of suspension, the first flight of the Emirati airline FlyDubai landed yesterday at Damascus airport, reported the state-run Syrian news agency SANA. The low-cost airline announced the resumption of its flights last week to serve the Syrian capital for Eid al-Adha.
The flights were suspended due to the civil war in Syria, after the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which fell on Dec. 8, sought to brutally crush a popular uprising that began in 2011.
Araghchi to hold talks with IAEA chief in Cairo
Iran's foreign minister and nuclear negotiator will meet with the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Cairo later today, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced.
A tripartite meeting will be held between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi. It comes a day after the U.N. agency published a report showing that Iran has stepped up its production of uranium enriched to 60 percent, close to the 90 percent needed to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Iran demands 'guarantees' from the United States on the lifting of sanctions
Iran urged the United States to provide "guarantees" on the lifting of sanctions that are strangling the country's economy, following a U.S. proposal for a possible nuclear deal.
"We want guarantees that the sanctions will be lifted," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai said. "So far, the American side has not wanted to clarify this issue."
Good morning!
Thank you for joining us for our live coverage today. Be sure to check out the Morning Brief so you are caught up with what has been happening.
Hamas ready to begin new round of cease-fire negotiations 'immediately'
Hamas said on Sunday it was ready to "immediately" begin a new round of negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza, where hopes of a an end to the war continue to be hampered by the lack of agreement between Israel and the Palestinian movement on a U.S. proposal.
"The movement is ready to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention," Hamas said in a statement, after Qatari and Egyptian mediators announced they were stepping up efforts to broker a truce in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Egypt and Qatar continue to strive for a cease-fire in Gaza
Qatar and Egypt announced yesterday that they intended to intensify their efforts to restart negotiations for a truce in Gaza.
"Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States, emphasize the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the negotiations," the two mediators said in a joint statement.
Two killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday
In Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to carry out targeted killings despite a six-month ceasefire, two people were killed yesterday in Israeli drone strikes in Arnoun (Nabatieh) and on the road between Aita al-Shaab and Debel. More than 170 people have been killed since the cease-fire came into effect in Israeli strikes and fire on Lebanon.
Arida border crossing between Lebanon and Syria reopens on Tuesday
The Arida border crossing between the Tartus region in western Syria and northern Lebanon will reopen on Tuesday, the Syrian Land and Sea Ports Authority announced. The crossing had been closed until Nov. 27, 2024, due to regular Israeli strikes on the infrastructure.
"We inform travelers that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon will be open to passenger traffic on Tuesday morning, despite ongoing restoration and maintenance work, in order to facilitate the movement of people during the Adha holiday," the authority wrote. Temporary repairs were carried out, and larger-scale work is still underway to rebuild the bridge over the Kabir River, which separates the two countries.
It was not immediately clear whether the crossing would be limited to cars and buses carrying passengers between the two countries or whether it would also include freight trucks.
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