Arms monopoly in Lebanon: First phase of army plan to be completed in early 2026, according to Salam
"The first phase of the army's plan regarding the monopoly on weapons has been completed, with the exception of the areas occupied by Israel," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in an interview with local television station LBCI.
These comments echo those made in mid-December by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who already pointed to the five hilltops which the Israeli army still occupies in southern Lebanon, which are currently inaccessible to the Lebanese Army.
The first phase would be completed "at the beginning of the year" 2026, Salam said. "These weapons are Lebanese and no one wants to hand them over to Israel," he added, adding that "there is no risk of internal clashes."
The first phase of the army's plan to ensure the Lebanese state's monopoly on weapons concerns the area south of the Litani River, located about 30 km from the border with Israel on the coast, and was to be completed by the end of 2025, according to the Lebanese Army's plan presented to the government last September.
New Israeli fire near UNIFIL, which denounces a 'worrying trend'
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday denounced two "incidents" in which the Israeli army fired near peacekeepers near Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), without causing any injuries.
"Incidents of this kind are occurring with excessive frequency and constitute a worrying trend," the U.N. force said in a statement.
Twenty killed in Saudi strikes in Yemen on Friday
Air strikes in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition killed 20 Yemeni separatist fighters on Friday, according to a military official from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), as reported by AFP.
The fighters were killed in attacks on separatist military bases in Al-Khasha and Seyoun, the official said on condition of anonymity. Medical sources confirmed the death toll, which had previously stood at seven.
Tehran considers Trump's threat of intervention in support of protesters as 'reckless and dangerous'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed as "reckless and dangerous" U.S. President Donald Trump's earlier threat of U.S. intervention if protesters were killed in Iran during the ongoing protests.
"President Trump's message today, probably influenced by those who fear diplomacy or mistakenly believe it to be useless, is reckless and dangerous," the Iranian minister said on X, stressing that while the ongoing movement was mostly peaceful, "criminal attacks on public property are intolerable."
South Lebanon: Israeli drone fires strikes at the outskirts of Khiam
An Israeli drone targeted a house in Bab al-Thaniyeh, at the western entrance to the town of Khiam (Marjayoun) with two strikes. No injuries were reported according to our correspondent in the South.
Yemen: United Arab Emirates confirms that its last forces have left the country
The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that its last forces have left Yemen and has called for de-escalation in the country, where separatists backed by Abu Dhabi have been targeted by deadly air strikes.
"The United Arab Emirates has ended the presence of its forces fighting terrorism" in Yemen, a government official said, quoted by AFP, adding that they "remain committed to dialogue, de-escalation and internationally supported processes as the only sustainable path to peace".
Yemen: Separatists announce start of two-year process towards southern independence
Separatists in Yemen announced on Friday the start of a two-year process towards independence in the South after seizing large swathes of territory in recent weeks.
"Based on the desire and will of our people in the South to restore and proclaim their state ... we announce the start of a two-year transitional phase," said Aidarous al-Zoubaidi, president of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to AFP.
An Israeli drone that fell earlier was found by residents in the town of Bint Jbeil (South Lebanon), according to our correspondent in the South.
Yemen: New strikes on bases belonging to separatist forces
New strikes hit separatist bases in Yemen on Friday, according to a source within the movement and witnesses, as a Saudi-led coalition attempts to dislodge them from their positions in the Hadramout region, AFP reports.
The airport in Seyoun (central Yemen) and the city's military base were hit by several strikes, according to a source from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), while witnesses told AFP they heard and saw attacks on both sites.
Angelina Jolie visits Egyptian side of Rafah crossing to Gaza
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing into Gaza on Friday, where she spoke with members of the Red Crescent and truck drivers ferrying humanitarian aid, AFP journalists said.
According to local media, the actor and former special envoy for the U.N. refugee agency made the visit to see how aid deliveries are entering Gaza and how injured Palestinians are being transported and cared for in Egypt.
Israeli airstrikes cause one injury and lead to road closure in Tebna
A Syrian worker sustained minor injuries from an Israeli airstrike on Tebna (Saida district).
The strikes' damage also temporarily blocked the road leading to Teffahta, according to our correspondent in the South. The Islamic Health Authority's Civil Defense team cleared the road.
Israeli warplanes struck Ain al-Tineh in Western Bekaa, according to our local correspondent.
Israeli army claims attacks on several regions in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army claimed that it had launched “an attack on Hezbollah targets in several regions of southern Lebanon” and had “targeted a Radwan Force training complex and military buildings.”
In a statement on X by Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesman, he claimed to have targeted “military buildings recently used to store combat equipment intended for Hezbollah members.”
Israel repeatedly claims the residential areas it attacks are "Hezbollah positions" despite the Lebanese Army and government's affirmation that the party has been completely disarmed south of the Litani River.
12 Israeli strikes in 20 minutes on south Lebanon
Twelve Israeli airstrikes hit south Lebanon in 20 minutes, according to L'Orient Today's south Lebanon correspondent.
The most recent series of strikes targeted Azzeh (Nabatieh district).
Israeli airstrikes target al-Baisariyah, Ansar again
New Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Ansar (Nabatieh) in the same spot as an earlier strike.
Two Israeli strikes also targeted al-Baisariyah (Nabatieh).
Israeli strikes hit Rihan, Ansar and Zrarieh
Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on the hills of Rihan (Jezzine district) and another one between Ansar and Zrarieh (Saida), L'Orient Today's south Lebanon correspondent reported.
The strikes were heard in Saida, accompanied by intense overflights by Israeli warplanes, he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes are also flying at a low altitude over the Bekaa, according to another local correspondent.
Larijani warns US interference in protests would spark regional chaos
The senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Larijani, said on Friday that U.S. interference in Iranian protests would lead to chaos across the region. U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened that Washington is "locked and loaded" and would intervene if Iran used lethal force against peaceful demonstrators.
Iran's biggest protests in three years over economic hardship have turned violent across several provinces, with six people reported killed in preliminary reports.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that "if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue."
Sirens in north Israel “false alarm”
The Israeli army confirmed that the sirens that sounded in Bar'am, in northern Israel, were a “false alarm,” through a post on X.
Warning sirens in northern Israel: Hezbollah not involved
Hezbollah is not linked to the incident at the border, which triggered Israeli warning sirens, according to a source close to the party quoted by Reuters.
Rocket sirens sound in northern Israeli settlement, one kilometer from Blue Line
Warning sirens sounded in Bar'am, a northern Israeli settlement located less than a kilometer from the Blue Line, opposite Yaroun, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, where settlers claimed seeing an interceptor launch.
The Israeli army's spokesperson issued a statement saying that the details are still under review. According to Israeli Channel 12, it was not fired from Lebanon.
These are the first sirens to sound in the area since the cease-fire agreement came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024.
Syria says ISIS was planning attacks on New Year celebrations
Syrian authorities said Thursday that the suicide bomber who killed a police officer on New Year's Eve in Aleppo was a member of the Islamic State group, and that the organization was planning to target New Year celebrations, including churches.
The Interior Ministry said, according to AFP, that it had obtained information indicating ISIS intended to carry out “suicide operations and attacks against celebrations in several governorates, particularly in the city of Aleppo, targeting churches and civilian gathering places.”
The ministry added in a statement that this intelligence prompted security forces to reinforce their deployment in those areas.
At least six killed in protests over cost of living in Iran
Localized clashes between protesters and security forces killed six people yesterday in western Iran, according to a news agency and a provincial governor. These are the first reported deaths since demonstrations over the rising cost of living began five days ago, AFP reported.
Those killed included a member of the Basij, a militia affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, the Islamic Republic’s ideological army.
Thirty people accused of “disturbing public order” were arrested in Tehran, Tasnim news agency said Thursday evening, even though authorities had not officially reported incidents in the capital in recent days.
Israel confirms 37 foreign NGOs barred from accessing Gaza
Israel confirmed Thursday that it is banning 37 major international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip, accusing them of failing to submit staff name lists now officially required for “security” reasons.
The move raises fears of further delays in aid delivery to Gaza, devastated by two years of relentless Israeli war and where most residents urgently need shelter, medical care and food. It also suggests increased monitoring of Palestinian staff by Israel, which some NGOs say is illegal.
“The organizations’ licenses have expired and they are prohibited from delivering aid. They have two months to withdraw their teams,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism told AFP.
South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike on bulldozer in Aita al-Shaab
An Israeli army drone targeted a bulldozer overnight in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil district). The strike caused no casualties, according to L'Orient Today's local correspondent.
Israeli strikes on reconstruction equipment and efforts are recurring in the South, where Israel baselessly claims it is targeting Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its capabilities.
Separately, automatic gunfire from an Israeli position on the contested heights of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya) targeted the outskirts of the village.
Good morning and happy New Year. Thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza, and the events in Syria, Iran and the region.
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