Israeli army claims to have fired on Lebanese soldiers setting up military post 'without coordination' | LIVE

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Israeli drone threatens Lebanese position in Sarda

An Israeli drone was observed flying over the Lebanese Army position in Sarda, south of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district, according to witnesses cited by our correspondent.

Israeli messages urging Lebanese soldiers to withdraw were broadcast via loudspeakers.

The position had already been targeted by gunfire shortly before.

A source within the Lebanese Army confirmed to L’Orient-Le Jour that the position had been established recently and specified that “talks are continuing through the cease-fire monitoring committee and UNIFIL” to resolve the dispute.

“The Lebanese soldiers have not yet withdrawn,” the source added.

Moreover, around 7:30 p.m., Israeli soldiers opened fire with medium machine guns from their position in Lebanese territory, in the Labbouneh region, south of Naqoura (Sour district), towards the village of Alma al-Shaab.

Iran says nuclear deal is 'within reach' ahead of talks with the US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an agreement on his country’s nuclear program was “within reach” ahead of a new round of talks scheduled for Thursday with the United States.

Iran will resume these talks “determined to reach a just and equitable agreement — as soon as possible,” Araghchi said in a message posted on X, describing it as a “historic opportunity to conclude an unprecedented agreement that takes into account our mutual concerns and interests.”

“An agreement is within reach, but only if diplomacy is prioritized,” he added.

Israeli army claims it fired on Lebanese soldiers setting up military post 'without coordination'

Israeli army spokesperson Ella Waouia justified the Israeli fire on a Lebanese army post by stating that "the army observed Lebanese soldiers setting up a military post without coordination."

In a message posted on her account, she explained that "the Israeli army first sent warning calls [to the Lebanese soldiers] before relaying a request to them through coordination channels to halt the work."

"When they did not respond to the messages, the [Israeli] army fired warning shots to put a stop to the work," she concluded.

Israeli official denies Lebanese infrastructure is a target

Following reports of Israeli threats against Lebanese infrastructure, should Hezbollah open a support front in a potential war between the United States and Iran, an anonymous Israeli official denied that Lebanese infrastructure was a target for the Israeli army, according to the pan-Arab channel Al Arabiya.

Israeli attacks, policies pose main challenge to stability of Lebanon and region: Iranian president

During a ceremony for the presentation of credentials by Lebanon's new ambassador to Iran, Ahmad Sweidan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Israel's repeated attacks and actions as the main challenge and cause of instability and insecurity in Lebanon and the region, according to Iranian media reports.

"The relationship between Iran and Lebanon is not limited to political ties, but is based on cultural and religious values, as well as deep emotional bonds that allow our people to share each other's joys and sorrows," he added. "Our sincere wish is that the Lebanese people live in peace, stability and security, free from the threats and plots of the Israeli regime."

Lebanese soldiers take up positions 800 meters from Israeli position

Members of the Lebanese Army took up positions around 7 p.m. south of the Wadi al-Asafir area (Mutran Hill), near the village of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district, just 800 meters from Hamames Hill, where Israeli soldiers are stationed, reports our correspondent.

Shortly before, an Israeli drone dropped three sonic bombs in the vicinity of the Lebanese Army post in Sarda, south of Khiam.

King Abdullah: Jordan will not be used as a battleground

King Abdullah of Jordan asserted on Tuesday that his country "will not serve as a battleground for any conflict," stating that "the security of the kingdom and its citizens is paramount."

Commenting on the possibility of a conflict between Iran and the United States during a meeting with the Jordanian Journalists Association, King Abdullah stressed that "dialogue and political solutions are essential to avoid further escalation in the region," the Jordan Times reports.

Israel targets Lebanese Army again in south Lebanon

The Israeli army has once again targeted, with medium machine guns, a Lebanese army post in Muntran Hill, which faces the Israeli post occupied in Lebanese territory at Hamames Hill, south of the village of Khiam, Marjayoun district, according to our correspondent.

⚡South Lebanon: Israeli fire directed at Lebanese Army post, troops order to 'retaliate'

While the Lebanese Army was setting up an observation post in the Sarda region (Marjayoun district), the area around the site came under Israeli fire, according to the Lebanese Army and our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

At the time of the firing, an Israeli drone flew over the area at low altitude, issuing threats aimed at forcing the soldiers to leave, the army stated in a press release published on X.

The Lebanese Army refused to leave the area. The army command gave the order to "reinforce the position, remain deployed there, and return fire at the source," the troops stated, adding that the incident is being monitored in coordination with the Cease-fire Agreement Monitoring Committee (known as the "Mechanism") and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The shots were fired from Hamames Hill, south of Khiam, one of six positions in southern Lebanon illegally occupied by Israel, according to our correspondent.

White House says Trump's first option on Iran is diplomacy

U.S. President Donald Trump's first option is always diplomacy, but he is willing to use lethal force if necessary, his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House on Tuesday when asked about Iran, according to Reuters.

Paris conference: EU ready to provide $100 million for Lebanese Army equipment

According to information obtained by L’Orient-Le Jour, the European Union intends to contribute $100 million to the March 5 conference in Paris in support of the Lebanese Army.

The funds are expected to finance the purchase of logistical equipment, as was the case at previous donor conferences.

Abdelatty-Le Drian meeting: Cairo reiterates support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and army

According to information obtained by L’Orient-Le Jour, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty used his meeting with Jean-Yves Le Drian to reiterate Cairo’s support for efforts to strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and unity, as well as its institutions, foremost among them the Lebanese Army, to enable it to carry out its missions.

The Egyptian minister also stressed the importance of compelling Israel to “immediately halt its aggression,” withdraw from Lebanon and fully comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).

Israeli threats: Lebanon pursues diplomatic efforts to prevent strikes on civilian infrastructure

Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, currently in Geneva for a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, said Beirut is working to prevent Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the case of Hezbollah's involvement in any U.S.-Iran escalation.

“There are signals indicating that Israel could strike very hard in the event of escalation, potentially including strategic infrastructure such as the airport,” Rajji told several media outlets, including AFP. “We are currently undertaking diplomatic approaches to request that, even in the event of retaliation, Lebanese civilian infrastructure not be targeted.”

Earlier, two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters they had received the same “indirect message” from Israel, warning that it would carry out large-scale strikes against Lebanon, including civilian infrastructure such as Beirut's airport, if Hezbollah were to join a potential U.S.-Iran war.

Israeli fire toward Lebanese Army post; troops ordered to 'return fire at the sources'

As the Lebanese Army was setting up an observation post in Sardeh (Marjayoun district), the surroundings of the position came under Israeli fire, the army and our correspondent in south Lebanon reported.

At the time of the shooting, an Israeli drone was flying at low altitude over the area, threatening soldiers and asking them to withdraw, the Lebanese Army said in a statement published on X.

The Lebanese Army refused to leave the site. The command ordered troops to “reinforce the position, remain deployed and return fire at the sources of fire,” the statement said.

According to our correspondent, the shots were fired from the Hamames hill, south of Khiam, one of six positions in southern Lebanon illegally occupied by Israel.

The incident is being followed up in coordination with the cease-fire supervision “mechanism” and with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to the Lebanese Army. This same Lebanese Army post was the target of Israeli fire on Dec. 2, 2023.

Iran issues death sentence linked to January uprisings

An Iranian revolutionary court has issued a death sentence for Mohammad Abbasi, accused of "enmity against god," believed to be the first such sentence linked to mass protests in January, a source close to his family told Reuters on Tuesday.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in a crackdown on the protests, the worst domestic unrest in Iran since the era of its 1979 Islamic Revolution. During the unrest, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that he could order military action if it carried out executions.

Iran's judiciary has not yet announced Abbasi's sentence at the time of publication.

Cairo meeting: Le Drian to represent France, Haykal to outline Lebanese Army’s needs

L’Orient-Le Jour learned that during today's meeting in Cairo to prepare for the international conference in support of the Lebanese Army, set for March 5 in Paris, Army Commander Rodolph Haykal will present the military’s needs under a plan developed in coordination with the Quintet countries — the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.

During a recent visit to Washington, Haykal secured assurances that the support program for the Lebanese Army would continue. The program is expected to enable the army to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by late 2026.

A diplomatic source said that Jean-Yves Le Drian, personal envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron, will represent France at the Cairo meeting. He will be accompanied by Maj. Gen. Valentin Seiler, France’s representative in the cease-fire monitoring mechanism.

South Lebanon: Israeli gunfire near shepherd in Wazzani

Israeli fire targeted an area near a shepherd in Wazzani (Hasbaya), without causing injuries, our correspondent in south Lebanon reported. The shots were fired from the Hammames hill, one of six points occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon.

Separately, an Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb over a neighborhood in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Israel warns Lebanon it would hit hard if Hezbollah gets involved in any US-Iran war, Lebanese officials say

Israel sent an indirect message to Lebanon that it would strike hard, targeting civilian infrastructure, including Beirut's airport, if Hezbollah gets involved in any U.S.-Iran war, two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Army helicopter crashes in central Iran, killing four

A helicopter belonging to the Iranian army's Air Force crashed on Tuesday into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan, killing four people, state media reported.

The pilot, co-pilot and two fruit vendors on the ground were killed, the official IRNA news agency said, attributing the crash to "a technical malfunction."

The tragedy took place in the city of Khomeynishahr in Isfahan province.

Iran says students have right to protest but must know 'red lines'

University students have the right to protest, but everyone must "understand the red lines," the Iranian government's spokeswoman said Tuesday, in the first official reaction to renewed rallies on campuses since the weekend.

"Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or deviate from, even at the height of anger," Fatemeh Mohajerani said.

University students in Iran started a new semester Saturday with pro- and anti-government rallies, according to local media, reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and led to thousands of deaths.

South Lebanon: Israeli army blows up two houses in border villages

The Israeli army blew up a house in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) and another in Houla (Marjayoun) overnight after its soldiers infiltrated the villages, our correspondent in south Lebanon reported.

The first explosion occurred shortly after 1 a.m. in al-Kharza neighborhood. The second took place at 4:30 a.m. in the Abra neighborhood.

Trump denies any disagreement with his chief of staff over military intervention in Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump denied last night media reports claiming that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, had warned him against a large-scale military intervention in Iran.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine (...) is against us going to War with Iran. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”

“He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack,” he added.

Good morning and thank you for following our live coverage as we follow developments in U.S.-Iran talks, as well as the cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza, which continue to be violated by daily Israeli attacks.

Make sure to read today's Morning Brief to catch up on yesterday's key events.