Katz tells army to act 'forcefully' against village of person who killed 2 Israelis in West Bank | LIVE

UNIFIL reports Israeli fire near patrols

Heavy machine gun fire from Israeli army positions south of the Blue Line struck near a UNIFIL patrol inspecting a checkpoint in the village of Bastara (Hasbaya) on Friday morning, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced Friday evening. "The fire followed the explosion of a grenade nearby," the U.N. mission added.

No UNIFIL property was damaged, but a peacekeeper was slightly injured, suffering from an ear concussion, UNIFIL stated.

The mission also reported another incident in the village of Kfar Shuba.

"Another patrol conducting a routine operational mission also reported machine gun fire from the Israeli side, in the immediate vicinity of its position," UNIFIL indicated.

Finally, the mission reiterates that it informed the Israeli army beforehand of “its activities in these areas, in accordance with standard practice,” and emphasizes that “attacks against or near peacekeepers constitute serious violations of Security Council Resolution 1701.”

It calls on the Israeli army to “cease all aggressive behavior and attacks against or near peacekeepers.”

Attack in Israel: Israeli army raids attacker's home in West Bank

The Israeli army raided the home of the Palestinian man who killed two Israelis in northern Israel on Friday, in the village of Qabatiya, and arrested his father, the Times of Israel reports.

Meanwhile, according to Palestinian media, military bulldozers are setting up roadblocks inside the village, while troops and other military vehicles patrol the streets and snipers are deployed on some rooftops.

The army is also reportedly blocking access to the town of approximately 25,000 residents, the Israeli media outlet reports.

France 'condemns in strongest possible terms attack' in Homs mosque

France "condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack" that killed eight people in a mosque in Homs, in central Syria, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement quoted by AFP.

"This despicable terrorist act ... is part of a deliberate strategy aimed at destabilizing Syria and the transitional authorities," the statement said, denouncing an attempt to "undermine ongoing efforts to establish peace and stability," following the attack that targeted an Alawite area of ​​the city.

Lebanon cease-fire: Salam meets with French ambassador

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French Ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro to discuss the role of the "mechanism," according to a report by the Grand Serail on its X account, which provided no further details.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated two weeks ago that a "second mechanism" for monitoring Hezbollah's disarmament in Lebanon was being developed "to prevent escalation," which Israel has threatened should the pro-Iranian party fail to disarm.

The “mechanism” is the name given to the committee monitoring the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect at the end of November 2024.

Furthermore, Salam strongly condemned “the continued Israeli attacks against the South and the Bekaa Valley,” stressing that “the priority is to end them, to secure Israel’s withdrawal from the territories it occupies, and the return of prisoners,” according to the message on X.

Sunni extremist group claims responsibility for attack on Syria mosque

A little-known Sunni extremist group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed eight people at a mosque in an Alawite area of ​​the city of Homs, in central Syria.

Its fighters "detonated several devices," the group wrote in a message posted on Telegram, vowing to continue attacks targeting "infidels and apostates."

Saraya Ansar al-Sunna had previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing against a church in Damascus in June 2025.

Explosion in Homs: Death toll rises to 8, 18 injured, according to SANA

The death toll from the explosion inside the Ali Bin Abi Taleb mosque during Friday prayers on Al-Khadri Street, in the predominantly Alawite Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs, has risen to eight, with 18 injured, according to a new report published by the state-run Syrian news agency SANA.

A previous report indicated five killed and 21 injured.

Yemen: Separatists warn strikes against them will not deter their goals

Yemeni separatists who have recently seized large swathes of territory in the country’s southeast warned on Friday that strikes targeting them, attributed to Saudi Arabia, would not deter them from their goal of “restoring the rights” of southern populations, AFP reports.

Israel attack: Katz tells army to act 'forcefully' against assailant’s village

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the army to act “forcefully” against the occupied West Bank village from which the attacker who killed two Israelis originated.

Katz instructed the army to “act forcefully and immediately” against the village of Qabatiya, the assailant’s hometown, according to a statement from his office.

In a separate statement, the Israeli army said it was “preparing an operation in the area,” which is located in the occupied West Bank.

Syria vows to hold perpetrators accountable after Homs mosque bombing

Syria’s foreign ministry on Friday described the deadly bombing of a mosque in Homs as a “desperate attempt” to destabilize the country, vowing to hold those responsible accountable, AFP reports.

In a statement, the ministry condemned what it called a “cowardly criminal act” that killed at least eight people, saying it was part of repeated efforts to undermine security and spread chaos among the Syrian population.

The ministry reaffirmed its “firm stance against terrorism in all its forms,” stressing that such attacks would not deter the state from continuing efforts to ensure security, protect citizens, and pursue those involved.

Joseph Aoun condemns 'terrorist' attack on mosque in Homs

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the “terrorist attack” that targeted a mosque in Homs and offered his condolences and “deep solidarity” to his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa, his government and the “brotherly Syrian people,” particularly the victims of what he described as a “heinous crime,” their families and religious authorities.

“The dignity of free societies and the lasting stability of states aspiring to prosperity and the well-being of their peoples can only be guaranteed through the protection of fundamental freedoms for every human being, both individually and collectively,” the president said.

He added that “hate speech, as well as phenomena of stigmatization and exclusion of others from national and public life, represent the most formidable challenge for any society emerging from intertwined wars with multiple causes and factors.”

Aoun also reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for Syria in “its fight against terrorism” and in its efforts to “build a state of freedom, democracy, modernity and tolerance,” an approach he said was “a guarantee of Syria’s unity and a national and strategic interest for Lebanon.”

Israeli drone drops sound bomb in Adaisseh

A little over an hour ago, an Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb near Ain al-Miah, in the center of the town of Adaisseh (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent.

Blast in mosque in Alawite area of Syria's Homs kills at least five, AFP and Reuters reports.

Israeli machine-gun fire hits Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya)

Machine-gun fire from the Israeli site at Roueissat al-Alam struck the town of Kfar Shuba in the Hasbaya district, according to our correspondent.

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In Yemen, separatist channel reports Saudi strikes in Hadramout province

Saudi Arabia, the main backer of the Yemeni government, carried out airstrikes on Friday against positions held by Yemeni separatists in eastern Yemen, according to the UAE-backed movement.

More details 👉 here.

Meeting between Aoun and Magro on conference supporting Lebanese Army

(Credit: Lebanese presidency’s X account)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun met with France’s ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, to discuss preparations for the support conference for Lebanon and its armed forces. The event is scheduled for February and will be sponsored by France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, according to a Baabda Palace statement.

Beirut time Israeli army claims responsibility for new strikes in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the new strikes in southern Lebanon in a message posted on X by its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, saying it had targeted Hezbollah “infrastructure in several areas in Lebanon.”

The statement said the targets included “a training and preparation camp used by the Radwan unit,” “several weapons depots and other infrastructure,” and “several military buildings,” without providing further details on their nature or locations.

Israeli army claims new strikes in southern Lebanon

An Israeli army drone carried out at least one strike on the hills between Kfar Shuba and Shebaa in the Hasbaya district, an area claimed by Lebanon, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes also carried out a raid on the outskirts of the village of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah area of Nabatieh, with explosions heard as far away as Sidon.

The Israeli army also conducted additional strikes on the outskirts of Baslayya in the Jezzine district and Kfar Melki in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, our regional correspondent reported.

Israel also strikes Hermel

The Israeli air force carried out six airstrikes on the jurd (mountain outskirts) of the towns of Brisa and Zeghrine in the Hermel region, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa, Sarah Abdallah.

Israeli flares and gunfire near Kfar Shuba

Late Thursday night, shortly after 10 p.m., Israeli artillery fired illumination flares over the outskirts of Kfar Shuba in the Hasbaya district, accompanied by machine-gun fire from the Israeli position of Roueissat al-Alam, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Mountasser Abdallah.

Israeli soldiers kill three Palestinians who crossed the 'yellow line' in Gaza

The Israeli army said it killed three Palestinians who crossed the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip in two separate incidents on Thursday.

In a statement cited by Haaretz, the army said it felt “immediately threatened” by two Palestinians crossing the line, which marks areas of Gaza still controlled by Israeli forces under the cease-fire agreement.

The soldiers shot the two men, without providing further details.

Earlier on Thursday, troops operating in northern Gaza killed a third Palestinian who had also crossed the “yellow line.”

Syrian Kurdish leader says he wants to prevent failure of integration deal with Damascus

The leader of Syria’s Kurds, Mazloum Abdi, said on Thursday he was doing everything possible to prevent the failure of an agreement with Damascus on integrating Kurdish forces into state institutions, as negotiations stall, AFP reports.

“All efforts are being made to prevent the collapse of the process,” Abdi said in a video message shared by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the armed wing of the Kurdish autonomous administration in northern and northeastern Syria.

An agreement reached in March between the Kurds and Syria’s new authorities provides for the integration of Kurdish institutions into the central government, including their military forces, which are to be merged into the Syrian army.

The deal was supposed to be implemented by the end of the year, but talks have made little progress.

The agreement “did not set a deadline,” Abdi said, adding that “further meetings will soon be held with Damascus” to continue discussions on Kurdish integration and “the continuation of the fight against terrorism.”

He reiterated the SDF’s demands for decentralisation, which have been rejected by the central government led by former jihadist Ahmad al-Sharaa, who overthrew former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East.

We are following events in southern Lebanon, which has been struck by Israel despite a cease-fire in place since Nov. 27, 2024, and in Gaza, also under Israeli fire despite a truce declared there last October.