'Northern Litani sovereign Lebanese matter': Hezbollah MP tells Rai
Received by Maronite Church leader Bechara Rai, Hezbollah MP Ali Fayad stated on Wednesday that “northern Litani is a sovereign Lebanese matter,” as the army is expected to soon disarm the party in the area.
This is a step in the arms monopoly plan that Hezbollah rejects as long as Israel maintains a military presence in several positions in southern Lebanon and continues to violate the cease-fire.
“We are not closing the doors, but we are saying that Lebanon has fully respected its obligations south of the Litani River, while the Israeli enemy has never honored its commitments, has not withdrawn from the areas it has occupied, and is carrying out daily assassinations throughout Lebanese territory,” stressed Fayad, accompanied by a delegation including MP Raed Berro and members of the party’s political bureau.
He also stated that “Israel must respect Resolution 1701 and allow the state to fully exercise its authority south of the Litani River. As for north of the Litani, that is a sovereign Lebanese matter. The government, the Lebanese Army, we, and all other stakeholders are discussing the necessary measures for the state to exercise its authority over the entire territory in accordance with the second phase [of the disarmament plan],” according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
"So we have not closed the doors, but we still confirm a positive and proactive position to help the State extend its authority, while discussing within the framework of a national strategy how to protect the country and what tools are capable of doing so," he said.
Israeli drone dropped stun grenade over Mais al-Jabal
An Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade over the Marj/Bayader area of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun district), without causing any injuries, according to our correspondent.
Aoun: Specter of war receded, not enitrely disappeared
President Joseph Aoun reiterated that the specter of war hanging over Lebanon, due to Israeli ceasefire violations aimed at pressuring the authorities to disarm Hezbollah, "has receded, but has not been completely disappeared."
"The current climate is positive on all levels. The specter of war has receded, but has not been completely eliminated," the head of state stated, according to a statement from the Baabda Presidential Palace, reiterating remarks made during the Christmas holidays.
He also indicated that "efforts are continuing with friendly and brotherly countries to definitively eliminate the risk of war."
"The Lebanese will celebrate the holidays in the coming days in a more stable climate and with greater hope for the future," he further assured, emphasizing that "the overall atmosphere shows positive signs on all levels."
Death toll rises in Gaza, where 1 person has been killed in past 48 hours
At least one Palestinian was killed and 10 others were injured by the Israeli army across the Gaza Strip in the past 48 hours, according to a statement from the enclave's Health Ministry.
Two bodies of people killed in previous Israeli attacks were also found under rubble, the Ministry added.
The Israeli army has killed at least 415 Palestinians and injured 1,152 others since the start of the cease-fire on Oct. 10.
In total, at least 71,269 Palestinians have been killed and 171,232 wounded since the start of the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
More than 500 Israeli settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Some 524 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Wafa news agency.
According to the Jerusalem Governorate, hundreds of settlers stormed the compound under the protection of Israeli forces, performing Talmudic rituals and conducting "provocative" visits.
Groups of Israeli settlers regularly infiltrate the site, Islam's third-holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian national identity.
Young man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers near Nablus
A young Palestinian man was shot dead Tuesday in the occupied West Bank while in his vehicle by the Israeli army, which accused him of driving toward a group of Israeli soldiers. Palestinian sources reported three other people were injured in the incident.
Palestinian authorities confirmed shortly afterward that they wanted to recover the body of 20-year-old Qais Sami Jaser Allan, "shot by occupation forces between the villages of Einabus and Awarta," south of the city of Nablus.
The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that it was able to "reach three wounded people who were near the vehicle targeted" by the Israeli army. "Two of the wounded were shot, one seriously. The third was wounded by blows."
The Israeli army, for its part, claimed that the victim had tried to "rush" towards a group of soldiers to justify opening fire.
Iran calls for international condemnation after Trump's war threats
Tehran has called for international condemnation against the threats of a new war made by U.S. President Donald Trump against the Islamic Republic.
“Threatening to use force against other states constitutes a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and must be condemned,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.
On the sidelines of his meeting Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump notably declared that he would support new Israeli strikes against Iran if Tehran rejected a new nuclear agreement and continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic program.
In a letter addressed to his counterparts, relayed by the ISNA news agency, Araghchi described these threats as “proof of ill will.”
“Washington should be held responsible for the consequences of such threats,” added the head of Iranian diplomacy.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a warning in the event of a resumption of Israeli strikes against his country.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will systematically respond to any aggression and make the aggressor regret their action,” Pezeshkian wrote on the social media platform X.
Israeli Mossad says it supports protesters in Iran 'on the ground'
The Israeli Mossad invited Iranian protesters to intensify their social mobilization, claiming to be present with them “on the ground,” where demonstrations were held at least 10 universities the day before.
“Go out into the streets together. The time has come. We are with you,” Israel’s foreign intelligence service said on its X account, speaking in Farsi to Iranian protesters. “Not just from afar or through words. We are also with you on the ground,” added the message echoed in Hebrew by army radio on Wednesday.
The call comes after talks this week between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, after which the U.S. president warned Iran of further strikes if Tehran rebuilds its nuclear or ballistic programs.
Israel to ban 37 humanitarian organizations, including MSF, from Gaza starting Jan. 1, 2026
The Israeli government will suspend the license of more than thirty humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), operating in the Gaza Strip for non-compliance with its new rules applicable to humanitarian aid groups working in the ravaged enclave.
According to regional media, this decision, announced Tuesday by the Israeli Ministry of the Diaspora and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, provides for the revocation of the licenses of 37 humanitarian organizations, including MSF, Action Against Hunger, CARE, Caritas, Oxfam, ActionAid and the International Rescue Committee.
According to a press release from the Ministry, the suspension will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
It is based on alleged violations of the new “transparency standards” applicable to NGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territories, arguing that they would have “refused to transmit the list of their Palestinian employees, in order to exclude any link with terrorism.”
A consortium of international and local NGOs has already published a joint statement urging Tel Aviv to reverse this decision. According to the group, these NGOs “play a vital role in life-saving humanitarian operations” in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli army claims it killed '380 terrorists, attacked nearly 950 military targets' in 2025
In a lengthy statement on X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that “Israeli operational superiority was demonstrated on all fronts” where it carried out attacks [Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iran, and Yemen], with “nearly 20,900 targets attacked in various theaters and approximately 430 military operations conducted across all areas.”
In Lebanon, the army claimed to have “eliminated over the past year around 380 terrorists and attacked nearly 950 military targets, including 210 launch platforms and weapons depots, around 140 military buildings and some 60 tunnel openings.” It also accused Hezbollah of having violated the cease-fire agreement 1,920 times.
In the Gaza Strip, it claimed that “over the past year, it has eliminated four terrorist brigade commanders, 14 battalion commanders and 53 company commanders.”
“In addition, approximately 19,530 terrorist targets were targeted, some 13,910 terrorist infrastructures destroyed and approximately 270 weapons depots attacked,” the statement said.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces said they had “eliminated around 230 terrorist elements and arrested some 7,400 people wanted for security reasons, including around 1,190 Hamas members.”
They also said they “seized approximately 1,340 weapons and confiscated nearly 16.48 million intended for financing terrorism. In addition, 30 houses and apartments belonging to terrorists responsible for atrocious, destructive attacks were demolished.”
In Iran, the army struck “around 1,500 targets and eliminated nearly 30 senior officials of the Iranian regime’s military command, as well as 11 nuclear scientists.”
On the Yemeni front, it said it had “carried out around 20 targeted military strikes with the participation of 180 combat aircraft, targeting nearly 230 military targets and eliminating 13 commanders of the Houthi terrorist regime, including Mohammad al-Ghamari, military leader of the Houthis."
CENTCOM, partners killed or captured nearly 25 IS members in strike on Syria earlier this month
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State (IS) operatives during the strike on Syria earlier this month, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Seven IS members were killed, and 18 were captured during 11 missions carried out between Dec. 20 and 29.
Four IS weapons caches were also destroyed during these operations.
These missions followed the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike on Dec. 19, when U.S. and Jordanian forces struck targets in Syria in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. citizens earlier that month.
South Lebanon: Israeli overnight incursion near Houla, where a house was destroyed
During the night, Israeli soldiers infiltrated approximately 1,500 meters into Lebanese territory north of the border village of Houla (Marjayoun district).
They dynamited a house along the road linking Houla to Markaba, according to information from our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Furthermore, around midnight, three explosions were heard near the newly established site on the Hamames hills, south of Khiam (Marjayoun), as well as sounds of vehicles circulating the hill, for unknown reasons.
Saudi coalition in Yemen says shipment from Emirates contained weapons
The Saudi coalition in Yemen said a shipment from the United Arab Emirates to the southern port of al-Mukalla contained containers filled with weapons and ammunition, Reuters reported.
This statement comes after the United Arab Emirates had indicated that the cargo in question did not contain weapons and was intended for Emirati forces.
The coalition said it had information that these weapons would be transported and distributed to different locations in the Hadramout region of Yemen.
Netanyahu: Iran has resumed ballistic missile production
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Iran had resumed production of ballistic missiles and urged the Islamic Republic to "accept the fact that it should not have nuclear enrichment capabilities."
“They should remove all the material that they have already enriched, take it out of Iran and submit to inspections,” Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview after he met with Donald Trump.
“As far as the nuclear program is concerned, I think they are not sure that they have decided to cross the red line,” he added.
Good morning. We are now launching our LIVE coverage of news from the Middle East.
We will follow developments in southern Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, as well as in the rest of the region, particularly in Yemen, where tension continues to rise between the government recognized by the international community and the separatists.
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