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A motorcycle was left charred following an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon. (Credit: Photo provided by Muntasser Abdallah.)

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Israel confirms Hamas spokesperson's death, one killed in Nabatieh drone strike | LIVE

What you need to know

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed the death of Hamas spokesperson "Abu Obeida", according to Haaretz.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, speaking on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the disappearance of Amal Movement founder Moussa Sadr, said he was “open to discussing the fate of the resistance’s weapons within the framework of calm and consensual dialogue.”

Two waves of Israeli bombardments took place between 7:30 and around 9 a.m. in the Nabatieh region, north of the Litani River.

Deadly strikes on Saturday in Gaza City are believed to have targeted the spokesperson of Hamas’s armed brigades, "Abu Obeida."

19:36 Beirut Time

Hezbollah confirms death of man killed in Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh

Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Ibrahim Ali Tawbeh, the man killed in this afternoon’s Israeli drone strike that targeted a motorcycle in the Nabatieh district. He will be buried on Monday in Mayfadoun, also in the Nabatieh district.

19:35 Beirut Time

Israeli army chief confirms assassination of Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida

The Israeli army’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, confirmed that Israel assassinated Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, in a strike on Saturday in western Gaza City.

Speaking during a situation assessment at the Northern Command, Zamir said the strike targeted Abu Obeida, "after most of Hamas’s leadership had already been eliminated. Our operations are not over. Most of the remaining Hamas leaders are abroad, and we will reach them too."

19:35 Beirut Time

Haret Saida municipality denies reports of clash with Lebanese army

The municipality of Haret Saida has denied reports of a confrontation between the Lebanese Army and participants in a march commemorating the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr, as claimed by what it described as certain “online sites.”

“The municipality of Haret Saida confirms this information is completely false... No incident occurred involving the army or any of our neighbors,” the statement said.

The municipality noted, however, that a soldier fired a shot into the air as a convoy of cars passed through the town.

“The municipality and residents of Haret Saida reaffirm that the Lebanese army is a red line. It is our pride and our honor, and its officers and soldiers are our sons,” the statement concluded.

19:35 Beirut Time

Yemen: WFP says one staff member detained by Houthis in Sanaa

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Sunday that one of its staff members was detained by Houthi forces in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which is under rebel control.

In a statement sent to AFP, the WFP said its offices in Sanaa were “raided by local security forces, who detained a staff member,” adding that there were reports of additional WFP staff being arrested in other regions.

19:34 Beirut Time

Gaza war: Israeli army says it will target Hamas leaders abroad

The Israeli army said Sunday it would begin targeting Hamas leaders abroad, following the assassination of the group’s military spokesperson Abu Obeida in Gaza.

“In the Gaza Strip, we struck one of Hamas’s senior officials, Abu Obeida. It’s not over — most Hamas leaders are abroad, and we will reach them too,” said army chief Eyal Zamir, in remarks cited by AFP.

18:15 Beirut Time

Yemen

The leader of the Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened on Sunday to intensify attacks against Israel, a day after the announcement of the death of the Iran-backed insurgents' prime minister in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday in Sanaa.

“The targeting of Israel with drones and missiles will continue and intensify,” said Abdelmalek al-Houthi in a speech broadcast on the Houthi-run Al-Masirah channel, adding that the recent Israeli strikes would not “push back” his movement.


17:18 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon

A second raid carried out by an Israeli drone targeted the “Ali al-Taher” wooded area in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, our correspondent reports.

17:07 Beirut Time

(Credit: Photo provided by Muntasser Abdallah.)

An Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle with a missile on the Nabatieh al-Fawqa road, our correspondent reports. The rider sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them.

16:57 Beirut Time

Houthi leader condemns Israel’s ‘record of terror’, vows continued attacks

Al Jazeera reports that Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, has condemned Israel and pledged to intensify attacks in response to the war in Gaza.

“The Israeli enemy, with its crimes and savagery, does not spare even children, women, and defenseless civilians,” al-Houthi said during his first speech since the recent Israeli airstrikes, according to Houthi media.

He stated that the assassination of Yemeni ministers and officials in Israeli strikes adds to what he called “a criminal record that spans the region.”

“The crime of targeting ministers and civilian officials is added to the criminal record of the Israeli enemy in the region,” he said.

Al-Houthi praised those killed in the recent attacks as “the martyrs of all Yemen,” asserting that “our people will not be weakened by the aggression they are facing.”

He described Israel as “a criminal foe” whose actions across Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran constitute a pattern of “horrific terror,” accusing it of acting without rules, commitments, or regard for international charters.

The Houthi leader confirmed that attacks on Israel will continue, positioning them as part of the group’s resistance against the war on Gaza.

16:27 Beirut Time

🔴 Gaza: Abu Obeida killed by Israeli army, confirms Israel Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Sunday the death of Hamas spokesperson “Abu Obeida”, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, a development that had already been reported by various Israeli media outlets on the same day. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said he was “awaiting the results” of the strike that targeted him.

“The Hamas terrorist spokesman, Abu Obeida, was eliminated in Gaza and sent to join, in the depths of hell, all the liquidated members of the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen,” Katz wrote on X. “Soon, as the campaign in Gaza intensifies, many of his criminal accomplices — Hamas murderers and rapists — will join him there,” he added.

Abu Obeida had become a symbol of the war in Gaza. Both well-known and enigmatic, he always appeared masked during his televised statements, wearing a red keffiyeh and a headband of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

For more on Abu Obeida, read about him 👉here.

16:07 Beirut Time

Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed the death of Hamas spokesperson "Abu Obeida", who was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, according to Haaretz.

15:39 Beirut Time

Berri: “Do not let the discourse of hatred prevail, because hatred is more dangerous than the weapons of the Resistance, which have saved the country time and again.”

15:39 Beirut Time

Berri: “Despite the passage of time, we will neither forget, nor compromise, nor forgive in the case of the abduction of Imam Moussa Sadr and his two companions.”

15:39 Beirut Time

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in a speech marking the 47th anniversary of the disappearance of Amal Movement founder Moussa Sadr:

“We are open to discussing the issue of the Resistance’s weapons, within the framework of calm and consensual dialogue aimed at developing a national security strategy — but not under international pressure.”

“Lebanon has fully implemented Resolution 1701, while the Israeli political and military institutions have not respected any of its provisions.”

“The stance taken by the ministers of the [Amal–Hezbollah] alliance during the Cabinet sessions on Aug. 5 and 7 was not sectarian or confessional, but a distinctly national position, born out of concern for Lebanon.”

“It is nationally unacceptable to throw the fireball into the hands of the Lebanese Army — which we have always regarded, and continue to regard, as the shield and unbreakable fortress of the homeland. The army is currently carrying out a very delicate mission in South Lebanon, within the framework of implementing the ceasefire agreement.”


15:06 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon: Army intelligence arrests three men for obstructing a UNIFIL patrol

Lebanese Army intelligence has arrested three young men from the village of Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district, for blocking a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from entering their village earlier, according to our correspondent in the South.

Arrests following blockages of UNIFIL convoys are rare. On Feb.15, the army detained 25 people after an attack on a U.N. convoy in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which injured two Nepalese peacekeepers. That incident occurred amid anger among Hezbollah supporters following a ban on Iranian aircraft landing in Lebanon.

On June 10, UNIFIL called on the Lebanese authorities to "take the necessary measures" to ensure its peacekeepers could carry out their mission without obstruction or threats, after one of its soldiers was slapped by a civilian.

The renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate for another 16 months this week was seen as a relief by Lebanese authorities.

13:42 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon: Army intelligence arrests three men for obstructing a UNIFIL patrol

Lebanese Army intelligence has arrested three young men from the village of Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district, for blocking a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from entering their village earlier, according to our correspondent in the South.

The extension of UNIFIL's mandate for another 16 months this week was seen as a relief by Lebanese authorities.

13:38 Beirut Time

In Gaza, 18 people died on Sunday, including 13 who were trying to collect food near a humanitarian aid site.

Two waves of airstrikes have taken place since 7:30 a.m. in the Nabatieh region, located north of the Litani River.

Deadly strikes on Saturday in Gaza City reportedly targeted the spokesperson of Hamas’s armed wing, “Abu Obeida.”

13:36 Beirut Time

Gaza: 7 more people die of hunger, 13 killed while trying to get food

The Ministry of Health in Gaza has announced that seven more people died of starvation in the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from famine to 339, including 124 children, according to the ministry, as reported by Al Jazeera.

In addition, at least 18 people died on Sunday, including 13 who were trying to collect food near a humanitarian aid site in central Gaza. At least two others were killed in a house in Gaza City, the ministry added.

13:35 Beirut Time

Gaza

While Hamas has yet to confirm or deny the death of the prominent spokesperson for its armed wing, “Abu Obeida,” whom the Israeli army claims to have killed on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday morning:

“We are waiting for the results. I note that Hamas is taking some time to respond. Apparently, there is no one left to report back,” according to the Jerusalem Post.

12:37 Beirut Time

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely critical. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as cited by Al Jazeera, seven more people have died of hunger in the past 24 hours.

This brings the total death toll from famine to 339, including 124 children.

These figures highlight the scale of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where living conditions are rapidly deteriorating due to blockades, destroyed infrastructure, and lack of access to humanitarian aid.

11:41 Beirut Time

Press conference underway for Gaza-bound global Sumud Flotilla

Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is preparing to sail to Gaza, are holding a press conference in Barcelona ahead of their departure, according to Al Jazeera.

“This is a non-violent mission that is aiming to open a corridor of humanitarian aid,” said Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s steering committee.

“We cannot ignore the fact that Palestinians are being starved to death because there is a government that is intentionally starving those people to death,” he added.

11:24 Beirut Time

An Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb near the cemetery of the village of Ramiyyeh, in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent.

10:12 Beirut Time

According to Al Jazeera correspondents in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has been carrying out numerous airstrikes across the enclave since dawn.

The bombings have targeted Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, displaced persons’ tents in the central region, the city of Deir al-Balah, as well as Gaza City, resulting in deaths and injuries.

09:55 Beirut Time

Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammad Sinwar in Gaza

Hamas confirmed on Saturday the death of its military chief in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, several months after Israel had announced that he was killed in a May airstrike.

Without providing details about the circumstances of his death, Hamas published photos of Sinwar alongside other leaders of the movement, referring to them as "martyrs."

Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement who co-organized the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and was killed a year later in combat. After his brother’s death, Mohammad rose to the group’s highest ranks. He was targeted in May in an Israeli strike on the European Hospital in Khan Younis. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, the attack killed at least 16 people and injured 70 others.

With his death now confirmed, his close associate Ezzeddine Haddad, the current commander of operations in northern Gaza, is expected to lead Hamas’s armed wing across the entire enclave.

09:53 Beirut Time

Spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing reportedly killed in Israeli strike on Gaza City

While Israeli security forces and the military claimed to have targeted the spokesman of Hamas’s armed wing, "Abu Obeida," in one of the many strikes on Gaza City yesterday, a Palestinian source told Al Arabiya that the official was killed in the bombing.

The raid took place in the Rimal neighborhood.

According to a military source quoted by Haaretz, the consequences of the strike are still “under review.”

Medical sources in Gaza reported that five Palestinians were killed in the bombing, which struck the lower two floors of a residential building.

09:45 Beirut Time

In the morning, propaganda leaflets were dropped by the Israeli army over Aita al-Shaab, according to our correspondent.

These leaflets threaten anyone "carrying out reconstruction work for Hezbollah" and include a photo of Mohammad Kassem, a Hezbollah member who was killed in the village on Aug. 22 in an Israeli drone strike.

09:33 Beirut Time

(Credit: Photo obtained by our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.)

According to residents cited by our correspondent, a missile fell without exploding on the road known as Darb al-Qamar in Mayfdoun, near Nabatieh. It remains on site, embedded in the road, and authorities are assessing the situation to take the necessary measures.

Local residents also reported hearing small explosions following the raids on the hills of Ali Taher.

09:23 Beirut Time

These strikes were carried out by Israel as the Lebanese government is set to review a plan by the Lebanese Army on Friday aimed at restoring the state's monopoly on weapons, which would involve disarming Hezbollah.

The government has committed to implementing this plan by the end of the year.

09:17 Beirut Time

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying it targeted “underground military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah” in the Chakif area.

The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on X that “military activity had been detected” in these tunnels.

09:13 Beirut Time

Between 7:30 a.m. and nearly 9 a.m., the Israeli army carried out a series of 12 bombings on the heights of the Nabatieh region, a city located north of the Litani River, according to local sources from our correspondent.

An initial Israeli “belt of fire” at 7:30 a.m. targeted the so-called “Ali Taher” hills facing Nabatieh, with ten Israeli strikes using, according to residents, high-explosive missiles. Homes in the area shook from the blasts. Debris and stones from the bombed hills fell onto the road linking Kfartebnit to Khardali.

Shortly before 9 a.m., two additional strikes, carried out by drones, hit the same hills.

09:12 Beirut Time

No information was immediately available regarding casualties from these bombings.

09:12 Beirut Time

At dawn, a drone from the Israeli army carried out a strike on a house in Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district along the border, without causing any casualties.

The Israeli army has claimed responsibility for these bombings and stated that it targeted “underground military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah” in the Chakif area. The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on X (formerly Twitter) that “military activity had been detected” in these tunnels

09:11 Beirut Time

Good morning. Welcome to our coverage of the Middle East, focusing on Gaza, where Israel's offensive continues with the aim of occupying Gaza City.

We'll also report on ongoing Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon despite the truce, as well as developments in Syria and Iran.


19:36 Beirut Time

Hezbollah confirms death of man killed in Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh

Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Ibrahim Ali Tawbeh, the man killed in this afternoon’s Israeli drone strike that targeted a motorcycle in the Nabatieh district. He will be buried on Monday in Mayfadoun, also in the Nabatieh district.

19:35 Beirut Time

Israeli army chief confirms assassination of Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida

The Israeli army’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, confirmed that Israel assassinated Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, in a strike on Saturday in western Gaza City.

Speaking during a situation assessment at the Northern Command, Zamir said the strike targeted Abu Obeida, "after most of Hamas’s leadership had already been eliminated. Our operations are not over. Most of the remaining Hamas leaders are abroad, and we will reach them too."

19:35 Beirut Time

Haret Saida municipality denies reports of clash with Lebanese army

The municipality of Haret Saida has denied reports of a confrontation between the Lebanese Army and participants in a march commemorating the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr, as claimed by what it described as certain “online sites.”

“The municipality of Haret Saida confirms this information is completely false... No incident occurred involving the army or any of our neighbors,” the statement said.

The municipality noted, however, that a soldier fired a shot into the air as a convoy of cars passed through the town.

“The municipality and residents of Haret Saida reaffirm that the Lebanese army is a red line. It is our pride and our honor, and its officers and soldiers are our sons,” the statement concluded.

19:35 Beirut Time

Yemen: WFP says one staff member detained by Houthis in Sanaa

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Sunday that one of its staff members was detained by Houthi forces in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which is under rebel control.

In a statement sent to AFP, the WFP said its offices in Sanaa were “raided by local security forces, who detained a staff member,” adding that there were reports of additional WFP staff being arrested in other regions.

19:34 Beirut Time

Gaza war: Israeli army says it will target Hamas leaders abroad

The Israeli army said Sunday it would begin targeting Hamas leaders abroad, following the assassination of the group’s military spokesperson Abu Obeida in Gaza.

“In the Gaza Strip, we struck one of Hamas’s senior officials, Abu Obeida. It’s not over — most Hamas leaders are abroad, and we will reach them too,” said army chief Eyal Zamir, in remarks cited by AFP.

18:15 Beirut Time

Yemen

The leader of the Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened on Sunday to intensify attacks against Israel, a day after the announcement of the death of the Iran-backed insurgents' prime minister in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday in Sanaa.

“The targeting of Israel with drones and missiles will continue and intensify,” said Abdelmalek al-Houthi in a speech broadcast on the Houthi-run Al-Masirah channel, adding that the recent Israeli strikes would not “push back” his movement.


17:18 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon

A second raid carried out by an Israeli drone targeted the “Ali al-Taher” wooded area in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, our correspondent reports.

17:07 Beirut Time

(Credit: Photo provided by Muntasser Abdallah.)

An Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle with a missile on the Nabatieh al-Fawqa road, our correspondent reports. The rider sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them.

16:57 Beirut Time

Houthi leader condemns Israel’s ‘record of terror’, vows continued attacks

Al Jazeera reports that Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, has condemned Israel and pledged to intensify attacks in response to the war in Gaza.

“The Israeli enemy, with its crimes and savagery, does not spare even children, women, and defenseless civilians,” al-Houthi said during his first speech since the recent Israeli airstrikes, according to Houthi media.

He stated that the assassination of Yemeni ministers and officials in Israeli strikes adds to what he called “a criminal record that spans the region.”

“The crime of targeting ministers and civilian officials is added to the criminal record of the Israeli enemy in the region,” he said.

Al-Houthi praised those killed in the recent attacks as “the martyrs of all Yemen,” asserting that “our people will not be weakened by the aggression they are facing.”

He described Israel as “a criminal foe” whose actions across Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran constitute a pattern of “horrific terror,” accusing it of acting without rules, commitments, or regard for international charters.

The Houthi leader confirmed that attacks on Israel will continue, positioning them as part of the group’s resistance against the war on Gaza.

16:27 Beirut Time

🔴 Gaza: Abu Obeida killed by Israeli army, confirms Israel Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Sunday the death of Hamas spokesperson “Abu Obeida”, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, a development that had already been reported by various Israeli media outlets on the same day. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said he was “awaiting the results” of the strike that targeted him.

“The Hamas terrorist spokesman, Abu Obeida, was eliminated in Gaza and sent to join, in the depths of hell, all the liquidated members of the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen,” Katz wrote on X. “Soon, as the campaign in Gaza intensifies, many of his criminal accomplices — Hamas murderers and rapists — will join him there,” he added.

Abu Obeida had become a symbol of the war in Gaza. Both well-known and enigmatic, he always appeared masked during his televised statements, wearing a red keffiyeh and a headband of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

For more on Abu Obeida, read about him 👉here.

16:07 Beirut Time

Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed the death of Hamas spokesperson "Abu Obeida", who was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, according to Haaretz.

15:39 Beirut Time

Berri: “Do not let the discourse of hatred prevail, because hatred is more dangerous than the weapons of the Resistance, which have saved the country time and again.”

15:39 Beirut Time

Berri: “Despite the passage of time, we will neither forget, nor compromise, nor forgive in the case of the abduction of Imam Moussa Sadr and his two companions.”

15:39 Beirut Time

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in a speech marking the 47th anniversary of the disappearance of Amal Movement founder Moussa Sadr:

“We are open to discussing the issue of the Resistance’s weapons, within the framework of calm and consensual dialogue aimed at developing a national security strategy — but not under international pressure.”

“Lebanon has fully implemented Resolution 1701, while the Israeli political and military institutions have not respected any of its provisions.”

“The stance taken by the ministers of the [Amal–Hezbollah] alliance during the Cabinet sessions on Aug. 5 and 7 was not sectarian or confessional, but a distinctly national position, born out of concern for Lebanon.”

“It is nationally unacceptable to throw the fireball into the hands of the Lebanese Army — which we have always regarded, and continue to regard, as the shield and unbreakable fortress of the homeland. The army is currently carrying out a very delicate mission in South Lebanon, within the framework of implementing the ceasefire agreement.”


15:06 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon: Army intelligence arrests three men for obstructing a UNIFIL patrol

Lebanese Army intelligence has arrested three young men from the village of Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district, for blocking a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from entering their village earlier, according to our correspondent in the South.

Arrests following blockages of UNIFIL convoys are rare. On Feb.15, the army detained 25 people after an attack on a U.N. convoy in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which injured two Nepalese peacekeepers. That incident occurred amid anger among Hezbollah supporters following a ban on Iranian aircraft landing in Lebanon.

On June 10, UNIFIL called on the Lebanese authorities to "take the necessary measures" to ensure its peacekeepers could carry out their mission without obstruction or threats, after one of its soldiers was slapped by a civilian.

The renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate for another 16 months this week was seen as a relief by Lebanese authorities.

13:42 Beirut Time

Southern Lebanon: Army intelligence arrests three men for obstructing a UNIFIL patrol

Lebanese Army intelligence has arrested three young men from the village of Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district, for blocking a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from entering their village earlier, according to our correspondent in the South.

The extension of UNIFIL's mandate for another 16 months this week was seen as a relief by Lebanese authorities.

13:38 Beirut Time

In Gaza, 18 people died on Sunday, including 13 who were trying to collect food near a humanitarian aid site.

Two waves of airstrikes have taken place since 7:30 a.m. in the Nabatieh region, located north of the Litani River.

Deadly strikes on Saturday in Gaza City reportedly targeted the spokesperson of Hamas’s armed wing, “Abu Obeida.”

13:36 Beirut Time

Gaza: 7 more people die of hunger, 13 killed while trying to get food

The Ministry of Health in Gaza has announced that seven more people died of starvation in the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from famine to 339, including 124 children, according to the ministry, as reported by Al Jazeera.

In addition, at least 18 people died on Sunday, including 13 who were trying to collect food near a humanitarian aid site in central Gaza. At least two others were killed in a house in Gaza City, the ministry added.

13:35 Beirut Time

Gaza

While Hamas has yet to confirm or deny the death of the prominent spokesperson for its armed wing, “Abu Obeida,” whom the Israeli army claims to have killed on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday morning:

“We are waiting for the results. I note that Hamas is taking some time to respond. Apparently, there is no one left to report back,” according to the Jerusalem Post.

12:37 Beirut Time

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely critical. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as cited by Al Jazeera, seven more people have died of hunger in the past 24 hours.

This brings the total death toll from famine to 339, including 124 children.

These figures highlight the scale of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where living conditions are rapidly deteriorating due to blockades, destroyed infrastructure, and lack of access to humanitarian aid.

11:41 Beirut Time

Press conference underway for Gaza-bound global Sumud Flotilla

Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is preparing to sail to Gaza, are holding a press conference in Barcelona ahead of their departure, according to Al Jazeera.

“This is a non-violent mission that is aiming to open a corridor of humanitarian aid,” said Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s steering committee.

“We cannot ignore the fact that Palestinians are being starved to death because there is a government that is intentionally starving those people to death,” he added.

11:24 Beirut Time

An Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb near the cemetery of the village of Ramiyyeh, in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent.

10:12 Beirut Time

According to Al Jazeera correspondents in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has been carrying out numerous airstrikes across the enclave since dawn.

The bombings have targeted Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, displaced persons’ tents in the central region, the city of Deir al-Balah, as well as Gaza City, resulting in deaths and injuries.

09:55 Beirut Time

Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammad Sinwar in Gaza

Hamas confirmed on Saturday the death of its military chief in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, several months after Israel had announced that he was killed in a May airstrike.

Without providing details about the circumstances of his death, Hamas published photos of Sinwar alongside other leaders of the movement, referring to them as "martyrs."

Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement who co-organized the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and was killed a year later in combat. After his brother’s death, Mohammad rose to the group’s highest ranks. He was targeted in May in an Israeli strike on the European Hospital in Khan Younis. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, the attack killed at least 16 people and injured 70 others.

With his death now confirmed, his close associate Ezzeddine Haddad, the current commander of operations in northern Gaza, is expected to lead Hamas’s armed wing across the entire enclave.

09:53 Beirut Time

Spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing reportedly killed in Israeli strike on Gaza City

While Israeli security forces and the military claimed to have targeted the spokesman of Hamas’s armed wing, "Abu Obeida," in one of the many strikes on Gaza City yesterday, a Palestinian source told Al Arabiya that the official was killed in the bombing.

The raid took place in the Rimal neighborhood.

According to a military source quoted by Haaretz, the consequences of the strike are still “under review.”

Medical sources in Gaza reported that five Palestinians were killed in the bombing, which struck the lower two floors of a residential building.

09:45 Beirut Time

In the morning, propaganda leaflets were dropped by the Israeli army over Aita al-Shaab, according to our correspondent.

These leaflets threaten anyone "carrying out reconstruction work for Hezbollah" and include a photo of Mohammad Kassem, a Hezbollah member who was killed in the village on Aug. 22 in an Israeli drone strike.

09:33 Beirut Time

(Credit: Photo obtained by our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah.)

According to residents cited by our correspondent, a missile fell without exploding on the road known as Darb al-Qamar in Mayfdoun, near Nabatieh. It remains on site, embedded in the road, and authorities are assessing the situation to take the necessary measures.

Local residents also reported hearing small explosions following the raids on the hills of Ali Taher.

09:23 Beirut Time

These strikes were carried out by Israel as the Lebanese government is set to review a plan by the Lebanese Army on Friday aimed at restoring the state's monopoly on weapons, which would involve disarming Hezbollah.

The government has committed to implementing this plan by the end of the year.

09:17 Beirut Time

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying it targeted “underground military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah” in the Chakif area.

The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on X that “military activity had been detected” in these tunnels.

09:13 Beirut Time

Between 7:30 a.m. and nearly 9 a.m., the Israeli army carried out a series of 12 bombings on the heights of the Nabatieh region, a city located north of the Litani River, according to local sources from our correspondent.

An initial Israeli “belt of fire” at 7:30 a.m. targeted the so-called “Ali Taher” hills facing Nabatieh, with ten Israeli strikes using, according to residents, high-explosive missiles. Homes in the area shook from the blasts. Debris and stones from the bombed hills fell onto the road linking Kfartebnit to Khardali.

Shortly before 9 a.m., two additional strikes, carried out by drones, hit the same hills.

09:12 Beirut Time

No information was immediately available regarding casualties from these bombings.

09:12 Beirut Time

At dawn, a drone from the Israeli army carried out a strike on a house in Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district along the border, without causing any casualties.

The Israeli army has claimed responsibility for these bombings and stated that it targeted “underground military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah” in the Chakif area. The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on X (formerly Twitter) that “military activity had been detected” in these tunnels

09:11 Beirut Time

Good morning. Welcome to our coverage of the Middle East, focusing on Gaza, where Israel's offensive continues with the aim of occupying Gaza City.

We'll also report on ongoing Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon despite the truce, as well as developments in Syria and Iran.