One killed in Israeli drone strike on vehicle between Jmaijmeh and Majdal Selm
An Israeli army drone targeted a pickup truck between Jmaijmeh and Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon's Marjayoun district. The driver was killed in the strike.
Sources cited by the correspondent identified the victim as Mohammad Alaeddine, from Majdal Selm.
Israeli army drops leaflets in Dhaira after shooting at al-Mayadeen journalists
Following the shooting at two al-Mayadeen TV journalists in Dhaira, in southern Lebanon’s Sour district, the Israeli army dropped leaflets over the area accusing individuals of “taking photos and collecting information on behalf of Hezbollah.”
The leaflets warned against activities by Hezbollah that “disrupt security” in the region. They included what appeared to be a satellite image of a village, along with photographs showing men taking pictures.
Israeli fire targets al-Mayadeen TV crew in southern Lebanon, no injuries reported
The Israeli army opened fire on a team from al-Mayadeen TV in Dhaira, in the Sour district, our correspondent reported.
Journalist Jamal al-Gharbi and cameraman Ali Hanqir, reporting in the area, were forced to withdraw.
Hanqir told L'Orient Today that he was “targeted by direct fire, and the bullets passed very close to us.” He added that an Israeli drone flew over their position and dropped a bomb a few meters away. “Thank God we were not injured,” he said.
Separately, an Israeli drone reportedly dropped a sound bomb on Odaisseh in the Marjayoun district.
Israeli violations in south Lebanon mount on Christmas eve and morning
Christmas night and morning were marked by renewed tensions in south Lebanon.
At dawn, Israeli soldiers infiltrated Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) and blew up a building near the municipality, our correspondent reported.
Earlier in the night, a small Israeli drone dropped four bombs on the center of Houla (Marjayoun), damaging several cars.
Separately, after a quadcopter-type drone was spotted flying over an excavator in the western neighborhood of Mais al-Jabal, the owner contacted Lebanese Army intelligence, fearing the machinery could be targeted. An army and intelligence patrol later arrived to evacuate the excavator from the village.
In the morning, Israeli automatic weapons fire also targeted the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), in the eastern sector.
One killed, one seriously wounded in Israeli drone strike on Hermel
On early Christmas morning, an Israeli army drone struck a minibus at the entrance to the village of Hosh Sayyed Ali, in northern Hermel near the Syrian border, our regional correspondent reported.
The strike killed a man identified as Ali Abdelamir Salman and seriously injured another.
A drone was still flying over the Bekaa area at the time of reporting.
Israeli Wednesday drone strike hits car in Jennata, injures several
Yesterday evening, an Israeli army drone struck a car on a road in the village of Jennata, in the Sour district of southern Lebanon, our correspondent reported.
Several people were injured in the attack, at least one of them critically
One Palestinian killed, several wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza
A Palestinian man was killed on Wednesday while several others were wounded in Israeli gunfire from two separate incidents in Jabalia, northern Gaza, and east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the Middle East Eye reported.
Ayoub Abdel Ayesh Nasr was killed while two others were wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on a group of Palestinians in Jabalia, Wafa news reported, quoting medical sources.
According to several media reports, the targeted individuals were in an area inside the "Yellow Line," demarcating the part of Gaza territory still controlled by the Israeli army under the cease-fire agreement. These attacks took place beyond the area of deployment of Israeli troops.
In addition, artillery shells and machine gun fire targeted the town of Bani Suheila east of Khan Younis, south of the besieged enclave, while night raids were also carried out against the city of Rafah a few hours earlier.
Meanwhile, three other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire east of Khan Younis.
Israeli army identifies Hamas financial official killed in Gaza airstrike
The Israeli army on Wednesday identified Abdel Hay Zaqout, a financial official of Hamas’ military wing, who was killed in an airstrike on Dec. 13 in the Gaza Strip. The strike, carried out during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, also reportedly killed Raed Saad, described by Israeli authorities as “one of the architects” of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack in Israel, according to army spokesman Avichay Adraee.
The army claimed Zaqout “belonged to the financial department of the military wing and had been responsible over the past year for collecting and transferring tens of millions of dollars to Hamas’ military wing, supporting its operations against Israel.”
Israeli fire targets outskirts of Shebaa
Israeli forces fired from a radar position toward the outskirts of Shebaa (Hasbaya district), our correspondent reported.
Israeli airstrikes hit multiple villages in Nabatieh district
Israeli airstrikes targeted the valleys and hills of Deir al-Zahrani, Azza, Houmin Fawqa, Roumin, and Zefta in the Nabatieh district, our regional correspondent reported. The village of Baissariyeh (Saida district) was also bombed.
Israeli army claims it struck Hezbollah rocket sites in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army said it targeted rocket launch sites belonging to Hezbollah across several areas in southern Lebanon.
Speaking on X, army Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the strikes also destroyed military buildings and other infrastructure recently used by Hezbollah operatives.
Israeli forces fired machine guns from the Roueissat al-Alam position toward the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya district), our regional correspondent reported.
Families of Israeli hostages, protesters call for national commission of inquiry
Families of Israeli hostages and protesters are calling for the establishment of a national commission of inquiry and are holding demonstrations outside ministers’ homes across Israel, Haaretz reported.
The protests come as the ruling Likud party is expected on Wednesday to approve a bill introduced by Knesset member Ariel Kallner to establish a political commission of inquiry into the events of Oct. 7, according to the report.
Israeli artillery strikes outskirts of Ramiye and Tallet Hamames
Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of Ramieh (Bint Jbeil district) after 9 p.m. Saturday.
Later, after 11 p.m., the Israeli army carried out two explosions near Tallet Hamames in the Marjayoun district.
Israeli air force strikes Gaza City and Rafah
Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on targets in the eastern part of Gaza City, al-Hadath reported. Aircraft also bombed Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
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ICJ: Belgium joins South African proceedings against Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Tuesday that Belgium joined the case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip.
This intervention does not mean that Belgium supports South Africa's accusations, nor that it defends Israel, but that it will give its interpretation of international law in the context of the case.
Several countries have already joined the case before the U.N.'s highest court in The Hague, including Brazil, Ireland, Bolivia, Colombia, Libya, Spain and Mexico.
In a resounding ruling in January 2024 — four months after the Oct. 7 attacks and the start of the war between Israel and Hamas — the ICJ called on Israel to prevent any act of genocide, warning of a "real and imminent risk" of "irreparable harm" to Palestinians.
Israel: Group releases AI-generated video of last hostage whose body is held in Gaza
An Israeli group representing the families of Gaza hostages released on Tuesday an AI-generated video of Ran Gvili, the last captive whose body is still being held in the Palestinian territory.
Gvili, a noncommissioned officer in the elite Yassam unit of the Israel Police, was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attack on Israel. His body was taken to the Gaza Strip along with those of other hostages.
In the one-minute AI-generated video, Gvili appears seated in what resembles a tunnel and addresses U.S. President Donald Trump. “Please take me home. My family deserves it. I have the right to be buried in the land I fought for,” the video says.
The forum said it released the video with the permission of Gvili’s family.
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