Strikes in Saida and Nabatieh districts: Israeli army says it is targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure

Israel strikes Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in Daoudieh

The Israeli army said it targeted infrastructure and engineering equipment used by Hezbollah to rebuild its facilities in Mazraat al-Daoudieh, southern Lebanon.

A statement said the presence and use of these sites violate agreements between Israel and Lebanon.

Earlier, Israeli forces also struck a building materials business in Daoudieh (Saida), our correspondent reported.

Trump says Iran wants to make a deal

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that Iran wants to make a deal but gave no other details, saying we'll see what happens.

Casualties reported

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday have reportedly left three people injured, according to initial reports from our correspondent in the region.

Targeted strikes in Saida and Nabatieh

At 7:42 p.m. Beirut time, the Israeli army said it was targeting Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated, “The Israeli army is currently striking Hezbollah-linked facilities in southern Lebanon.”

According to our correspondent, 11 explosions were heard. Sites hit include the valleys between Msayleh, Taffehta, and Najjarieh in Saida, and the valleys of Aazeh, Roumin, and Zefta in Nabatieh. The road connecting Msayleh to Zahrani was closed in both directions due to the bombardments.

Trump says US armada heading to Iran ‘even bigger’ than fleet sent to Venezuela

Donald Trump has once again spoken about U.S. warships moving toward Iran, claiming the fleet forms a much larger “armada” than the one sent ahead of the U.S. operation in Venezuela earlier this month, Al Jazeera reports.

“We have a large armada, flotilla — call it whatever you want — heading toward Iran right now,” Trump said, adding that it is “even larger than what we had in Venezuela.”

Asked about America’s military plans in the region, he added, “We’ll see how it all works. They have to float some place, they might as well float near Iran.”

“It’s a rough situation going on,” he concluded.

Hezbollah member killed in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah announced the death of its member Mohammad Youssef, who was killed earlier Friday in a strike targeting his vehicle in Siddiqine (Sour). The party said his funeral will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. in Kafa’at, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israeli machine-gun fire hits outskirts of Aita al-Shaab

At 6:45 p.m. Beirut time, Israeli machine-gun fire from the Raheb position struck the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Gaza war: Israel denies Gaza death toll report

The Israeli army on Friday denied having endorsed the Gaza authorities’ claim that over 71,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, Israeli army spokesperson, said on X: “The published information does not reflect official army data. Any publication or information on this matter will be released through official and appropriate channels.”

The statement followed a Thursday article in Haaretz, which cited no sources, claiming the Israeli army had accepted the death toll estimate provided by Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Washington announces new sanctions targeting Iran

The United ⁠States issued ‍fresh Iran and counter-terrorism-related sanctions, ‌targeting seven Iranian nationals and ‌at least one entity, according ‌to ‍the U.S. ⁠Treasury Department's website.

Among the officials sanctioned today are Iran's Minister of the Interior, who oversees the Law Enforcement Forces, "a key entity responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful protestors," the U.S. Treasury said.

The Office of Foreign Assets also designated Babak Morteza Zanjani, an Iranian investor who "embezzled billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue that rightfully belonged to the Iranian people and was never fully recovered," and "provided financial backing for major projects that support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian regime more broadly," the treasury added.

"Rather than build a prosperous Iran, the regime has chosen to squander what remains of the nation's oil revenues on nuclear weapons development, missiles, and terrorist proxies around the world," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "President Trump stands with the people of Iran and has ordered the Treasury to sanction members of the regime. Treasury will continue to target Iranian networks and corrupt elites that enrich themselves at the expense of the Iranian people. This includes the regime's attempts to exploit digital assets to evade sanctions and finance cybercriminal operations."

"Like rats on a sinking ship, the regime is frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world. Rest assured, Treasury will act," Bessent added

Israeli drone kills Mohammad Youssef in strike on vehicle in Siddiqine

An Israeli drone targeted Mohammad Ahmed Youssef's vehicle at the entrances to Siddiqine, in the Sour district of southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent. Youssef, who was originally from the town of Rayak, was seriously injured in the strike and later succumbed to his injuries.

Rafah crossing to reopen Sunday for limited, controlled movement of people

Israel announced that the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will reopen on Sunday for limited and controlled movement of people.

“In accordance with the cease-fire agreement and the directive of the political echelon, the Rafah crossing will open this Sunday (Feb. 1) in both directions, for limited movement of people only,” said a statement from COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“Exit from and entry into the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing will be authorized in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel, and under the supervision of the European Union mission,” COGAT added.

South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike on Siddiqine

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

One person was critically injured after an Israeli drone fired two missiles targeting the outskirts of the town of Siddiqine (Sour), according to our correspondent in the south.

According to the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the army targeted a Hezbollah operative in Siddiqin.

Araghchi: Iran’s defense capabilities and missiles 'will never be subject to negotiations.'

Iran’s defense capabilities and its missiles “will never be subject to negotiations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said from Istanbul.

South Africa declares Israel's acting ambassador persona non grata

South Africa has declared Israel's chargé d'affaires, Ariel ⁠Seidman, persona non grata, its foreign affairs ‌ministry said on Friday, according to Reuters.

Seidman is required to ‍depart from the country within 72 hours, the ministry said in a ‍statement on its website. It accused Seidman of "unacceptable ‌violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa's sovereignty."

"These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against His Excellency President Cyril ‌Ramaphosa, and a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO (South Africa's foreign affairs ministry) of purported visits by senior Israeli officials," the ministry said.

Israel's ‌diplomatic mission in Pretoria ‍did not immediately respond to a ⁠request for comment.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have been strained by South Africa's genocide case over Israel's actions in Gaza at the International Court of ⁠Justice. Israel has rejected South Africa's case as baseless.

The world must now focus on the 'dramatic' situation in Gaza, says Red Cross chief

After the handover of prisoners and bodies under the Gaza cease-fire, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged the world to focus on the territory’s “dramatic” situation, AFP reported.

“Over the past 15 weeks, the ICRC has worked with Israel, Hamas, and the mediators to return hostages, detainees, and the remains of those who died to their families, in accordance with the first phase of the cease-fire agreement,” Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement, calling on the international community to “urgently improve the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

Europeans will 'pay the consequences' for their 'reckless' decision against the Revolutionary Guards, Iran warns

Iran’s head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, warned that Europeans will “pay the consequences” of their “reckless” decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization,” AFP reports.

“There is no doubt that this hostile action” by the European Union “will not go unanswered,” he said, according to state television. “They will pay the consequences of this reckless decision.”

The Revolutionary Guards, the armed wing of the Islamic Republic, are accused of having orchestrated the bloody crackdown on popular protests in January.

Barrack hails 'historic step' between Damascus and the Kurds

The comprehensive agreement announced between Damascus and the Kurds for their integration into the Syrian state is “a historic step,” said Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria, praising a “courageous move” taken by both sides.

In a statement posted on X, the U.S. official said the agreement marked a “historic step on Syria’s path toward national reconciliation, unity and stability.”

Araghchi in Istanbul to try to ease tensions with Washington

Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Istanbul Friday to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, amid efforts to prevent a U.S. attack on neighboring Iran that could destabilize the region. This is Araghchi’s first official foreign visit since the bloody crackdown on protests in Iran. He is scheduled to speak to the press at 1:45 p.m. local time alongside Fidan, AFP reports.

His visit comes at a particularly tense time for the Iranian government, with a U.S. naval armada deployed in the Gulf and, on Thursday, the European Union designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s armed wing, as a terrorist organization.

Turkey, an NATO member, is eager to avoid a military escalation at its doorstep, which could send thousands of migrants across its more than 550-kilometer border with Iran and spark a new conflict near its borders, following the war in Syria.

More information here.

Trump briefed on new military options against Iran, says he 'intends' to negotiate with Tehran

According to the New York Times (NYT), U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on an “expanded list of military options against Iran,” including potential strikes on “Iranian ballistic and nuclear facilities or to weaken Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.” These options are broader than those presented earlier in January, which were aimed at ending the crackdown on the protest movement, and now also include the possibility of “direct raids on Iranian soil,” according to the NYT.

Trump told reporters yesterday that he plans to “engage with Iran,” without specifying who would lead such negotiations or when they might take place. “I intend to do it, yes,” Trump said when asked about potential talks with Tehran.

"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them." he said, referring to the naval forces deployed in the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

Syria: Kurds announce 'comprehensive' agreement with Damascus

Syrian Kurds, who control an autonomous region in northern Syria, have announced that they have reached a “comprehensive” agreement with Damascus, under which their forces and administration will gradually be integrated into the Syrian state.

According to a statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, dominated by Kurds), Damascus security forces will be deployed in two Kurdish-controlled cities, while the powerful Kurdish forces will remain organized into three brigades.

Low-altitude drone over Palestinian camps in Saida

Israeli artillery fired flares over Kahaleh, located between Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras, as Israeli drones continued to fly at low altitude over the Palestinian camps in Saida, according to our correspondent.

Iran protests: WHO condemns attacks and arrests of doctors

The director of the World Health Organization (WHO) denounced attacks on and arrests of healthcare workers and doctors by Iranian authorities in recent weeks, amid the crackdown on a large-scale protest movement. Measures taken by the Iranian government to suppress the demonstrations have resulted in thousands of deaths, according to casualty-tracking organizations, while the country has been largely cut off from the internet for weeks.

“I am deeply concerned by multiple reports of health personnel and medical facilities in Iran being affected by recent insecurity and prevented from providing essential services to people in need of care,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X. He cited “attacks on healthcare workers and the detention of at least five doctors while treating injured patients,” calling for their release.

According to the WHO chief, Khomeini Hospital in the western city of Ilam was “attacked” in January. “Ten emergency posts were damaged, more than fifty paramedics were injured, and over two hundred ambulances were damaged,” he said.

“Healthcare must never be a target,” he emphasized.

Gaza: Bodies of 15 Palestinians returned to the Ministry of Health

The Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health announced that Israeli authorities had returned the bodies of “fifteen Palestinian martyrs”, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to 360 so far. The bodies were transferred to the al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), according to Al Jazeera.

The ministry said medical teams are handling the bodies according to established procedures and protocols to complete examinations, documentation, and return the bodies to their families.

According to the Palestinian Information Center, Israeli forces have killed 508 Palestinians and injured 1,356 others since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on Oct. 11.

Gaza: 2 killed and several injured in Israeli strike on al-Maghazi camp

Two Palestinians were killed and several others injured at dawn after an Israeli airstrike targeted civilians in the al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza, according to a source at the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital cited by Al Jazeera.

Israeli forces also opened fire east of Gaza City, while Israeli artillery renewed bombardments on Palestinian homes in Bani Souheila, east of Khan Younis.

The previous day, three Palestinians were killed and others injured in two separate Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army said it had targeted a Hamas member allegedly preparing an attack in the southern part of the territory.

On Thursday evening, the Israeli military carried out shelling and destroyed residential buildings in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza. Local sources reported that Israeli military vehicles fired intensively near the Morag axis, north of Rafah, while heavy fire also targeted areas east of Khan Younis.

The Israeli army said it identified eight Palestinian fighters emerging from a tunnel near Rafah. Three of them were killed in an airstrike, according to an Israeli military statement.

Southern Lebanon: Loud bomb dropped near Khiam

This morning, an Israeli drone dropped a sonic bomb in the western part of Khiam (Marjayoun district), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Overnight artillery fire, infiltration, drone flights, and flares in southern Lebanon

Last night, after 9 p.m., Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of Yaroun, in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon. Israeli drones also conducted intensive low-altitude flights over the city of Nabatieh, as well as several nearby towns, according to our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah.

After 10 p.m., an Israeli force consisting of a Merkava tank and two military vehicles was seen infiltrating toward a residential house on the outskirts of Yaroun (Bint Jbeil district). This prompted the homeowners to evacuate, fearing the Israeli army might destroy the property. A joint patrol of the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) moved to the area.

At midnight, Israeli artillery fired a flare over the town of Kfarchouba (Hasbaya district).

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East, tracking rising U.S.–Iran tensions, as well as the situation in southern Lebanon and Gaza, which continue to face Israeli strikes despite cease-fires.

Catch up on what you missed yesterday, and what to keep an eye out for today by reading our 👉 Morning Brief