Another Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs
A new Israeli strike targeted Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut's southern suburbs, local media reported.
US not expanding military objectives in Iran, Hegseth says
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United States was not expanding its military objectives in Iran, after President Donald Trump told Axios that the U.S. must be involved in choosing the next supreme leader of Iran.
"There's no expansion in our objectives. We know exactly what we're trying to achieve," Hegseth said.
Shehadi: No international guarantees to protect Lebanon’s infrastructure
Minister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadi warned that there are no international guarantees to protect Lebanon’s infrastructure.
"There are no international guarantees for the protection of the country’s infrastructure, whether it is the airport, the port or the airport road," he said.
France urges Israel to avoid ground incursion, refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure in Lebanon
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israel to "refrain from any form of ground incursion into Lebanon," as well as from targeting port and airport infrastructure and civilians, during an interview on TF1 on Thursday evening.
He also urged Israel to "refrain from any form of prolonged and widespread operation," saying "Lebanon is once again being dragged by Hezbollah into a war that it did not choose."
Barrot stressed the need to support the Lebanese Army, which he said are meant to continue the disarmament of Hezbollah.
He added that France will deliver armored vehicles, five tons of medical aid and several tons of humanitarian equipment to the Lebanese Army next week. The humanitarian aid and military reinforcement action plan was first announced by President Emmanuel Macron on X earlier today.
Another Israeli strike targets the Bekaa Valley
An Israeli strike targeted the village of Douris, in the Baalbeck district.
US and Israel 'demolishing enemy far ahead schedule,' Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said that since the start of the U.S-Israeli war on Iran, 60 percent of Iran's missiles and 64 percent of its launchers have been "gone."
"Their navy is gone, 24 ships in three days," he said at a White House event. "Their anti-aircraft weapons are gone; they have no air force. They have no air defense. All their planes are gone. Their communications are gone."
Israeli strikes begin in the Bekaa Valley, following evacuation threats
A first Israeli strike hit the Brital area, in the Baalbeck district, reported our regional correspondent.
At around 8 p.m., the Israeli army had released evacuation threats for the villages of Douris, Brital and Majdaloun, all in the Baalbeck district.
2 more Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs
Two consecutive Israeli strikes hit Haret Hreik, bringing the total number of attacks in the Beirut's southern suburbs since the start of the evening to around five.
Another Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
Another Israeli strike targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, according to Al-Jazeera and local media the strike targeted the Ghobeiri area.
At least 123 killed, and 683 wounded in Israeli strikes since the war started
On Thursday evening, the Health Ministry released a new toll from Israeli strikes since the start of the war on Monday: 123 people killed and 683 wounded.
"The death toll from the Israeli aggression since Monday morning … stands at 123 martyrs and 683 wounded," the ministry said in a statement.
Another Israeli strike targeted Beirut's southern suburbs
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi leader said, "his finger is on the trigger," in comments referencing the raging war in the Middle East.
The Israeli army announced that it began bombing "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Israeli strike hits Beirut's southern suburbs
⚡Nearly eight hours after its mass evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs, the Israeli army carried out a strike on the suburbs. The detonation was heard across the capital and surrounding areas.
According to Al-Hadath TV, the Israeli cabinet is meeting to discuss the situation on the Lebanese front.
Salam meets Beirut governor to discuss new accommodation centers
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud and his team to monitor preparations for opening additional accommodation centers in the capital for those who are internally displaced, the Grand Serail reported.
2 Israeli soldiers wounded in south Lebanon
The Israeli army said two soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in the fighting in southern Lebanon.
Israeli army: Hezbollah artillery commander in South killed
The Israeli army said it had killed Ziad Ali Jumaa, Hezbollah's head of artillery in southern Lebanon.
In a post on X, the army said that Jumaa was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles and UAVs from Lebanon toward Israel. He also led the 2015 anti-tank missile attack in Mount Dov, which killed and Israeli officer and soldier, the statement added.
The statement did not provide the details of the attack.
Latest cross-border strikes between Israel and Lebanon
- The Israeli airstrikes bombed the outskirts of Aishieh (Jezzine district), and the villages of Khiam and Touline (Marjayoun), Aitaroun and Yater (Bint Jbeil district).
- Israeli artillery fire targeted the village of Khiam (Marjayoun).
- Several salvos of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel.
- Hezbollah said it targeted twice a gathering of Israeli army vehicles at a new site in Markaba (Marjayoun). It also said it struck Israeli forces in Kfar Yuval, near the border, and the Naftali base, west of the Sea of Galilee.
France evacuates 750 nationals from Middle East
Seven hundred and fifty French nationals have been evacuated from the Middle East since the start of the war, with the help of the Foreign Ministry, Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday.
“The teams … have facilitated the return to France of 750 people,” Barrot told TF1, adding that about 5,000 people want to leave the region, 80 percent of whom are in the United Arab Emirates.
At least 319 Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in 4 days
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, the Israeli army has carried out at least 319 airstrikes across Lebanon. The below lists the airstrikes conducted until March 5 at 6 p.m., according to L'Orient Today tally.
Lebanon: Israeli forces ordered to advance deeper
Israeli forces in Lebanon ordered to advance deeper to expand control along border, army chief says
Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Thursday evening that Israeli forces have been ordered to move deeper into Lebanon to extend their control along the border with Israel.
“We are striking with force, on the front lines and deeper into Lebanon. I have ordered our forces to advance and expand the control zone along the border, while establishing positions at key points in southern Lebanon,” Zamir said in a televised address.
More than six hours after issuing a massive evacuation order for four neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Israeli army carried out a warning strike in the area.
War with Iran: Israel announces 'next phase,' promises 'more surprises'
The Israeli chief of staff announced Thursday evening the “next phase” of Israeli military operations in Iran and warned of “more surprises” to come against the Islamic Republic.
“After successfully completing the surprise attack phase, during which we established our air superiority and neutralized the ballistic missile network, we are now moving to the next phase of the operation,” Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a televised statement.
“During this phase, we will continue dismantling the [Iranian] regime and its military capabilities. We have more surprises in store, which I do not intend to reveal,” he added.
319 Israeli airstrikes recorded in Lebanon since March 2
According to a count by L’Orient-Le Jour, the Israeli army carried out at least 319 airstrikes between March 2 and March 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Israeli army will 'always remain' in Lebanon and Gaza, Katz says, referring to 'security zones'
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said that Israel is implementing a long-term strategic shift, declaring that the Israeli army will “always” remain in Gaza and Lebanon, which he described as “security zones.”
'We will not abandon the goal of disarming Hezbollah,' says Israeli army chief
The head of the Israeli army said that it will continue operations against Hezbollah until it achieves its objective of disarming the group.
Speaking about the military campaign in the north, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that “Hezbollah has made a strategic mistake,” adding that the Shiite party, “against the interests of Lebanese citizens,” chose to join the conflict and “is paying a heavy price.”
“We will continue to act to protect the security of northern residents and to eliminate the threat,” he continued, emphasizing that the Israeli army “will not abandon the goal of disarming Hezbollah.”
Hezbollah releases video showing attacks on Israeli bases
Hezbollah released a video in the evening showing attacks on several Israeli army bases in northern and central Israel using missiles and drones. The footage shows strikes on the Haifa naval base, Ramat David Airport, and the Tel HaShomer base.
Iran says it is ready to counter a ground invasion, warns of 'disaster'
Iran is “prepared” for the possibility of a ground invasion, which would be a “disaster” for the enemies of the Islamic Republic, Iran’s top diplomat warned Thursday.
“We are prepared for any eventuality, even a landing,” Abbas Araghchi said on the American network NBC News.
“We are waiting for them [the enemies],” he added. “We are confident we can confront them, and it would be a disaster for them,” as media reports – denied by the White House – had suggested possible U.S. military support to Kurdish militias to overthrow the Iranian regime.
An Air France flight chartered to repatriate French citizens from the United Arab Emirates turned back due to “fire in the area.”
Iran: State TV claims Iranian drones hit the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier
Iranian state television reported Thursday that drones operated by the Revolutionary Guards had struck the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Gulf region since late January.
The Iranian television station provided no further details at this stage. On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards claimed they had hit the carrier with four Iranian missiles, a claim dismissed as a “lie” by the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) for the Middle East.
Update on south Lebanon
- Israel conducted strikes targeting the villages of Hanine and Yater in the Bint Jbeil district, our correspondent reports.
- Israeli artillery fire targeted the village of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil).
- An Israeli airstrike hit Halloussiyeh (Sour).
- An Israeli army force infiltrated the village of Kfar Kila and blew up several houses.
- Hezbollah said it targeted the Israeli barracks in Yaara at 6:15 a.m. with a squadron of drones, in response “to the criminal Israeli aggression that struck dozens of towns and villages, including Beirut’s southern suburbs.”
- Three Hezbollah members – Abdelrahim Mohammad Zhour and brothers Hassan and Mohammad Abdelhamid Zhour – were killed in the strike on Choukine (Nabatieh) yesterday, according to our correspondent.
- The Amal movement announced the death of one of its members, Abdallah Mohammad Chbib, in the Israeli strike that hit Nabatieh the previous day.
Latest developments in the Bekaa
An Israeli strike targeted the village of Mashghara in western Bekaa, killing four people, our correspondent in the region, reports. The strike hit members of the Ghazali family. Two brothers, Kassem and Ibrahim Ghazali, were killed, and their mother was seriously injured.
Israeli army orders evacuation of 3 neighborhoods in the Bekaa
The Israeli army called for the evacuation of the neighborhoods of Douris, Brital and Majdaloun in the Bekaa in a message from its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.
“Hezbollah’s activities in the area are forcing the Israeli army to act forcefully to target military infrastructure belonging to it,” Adraee wrote in a post on X, adding that the army “has no intention of harming you.”
The Israeli army urged residents to immediately evacuate the area and head west via the Zahle-Baalbek road, adding that “anyone near Hezbollah elements, its facilities or its military assets is putting their life and the lives of their family at risk.”
Macron urges Netanyahu “Not to expand the war to Lebanon”
“At this moment of great danger, I ask the Israeli prime minister not to expand the war to Lebanon,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. “I ask Iranian leaders not to further involve Lebanon in a war that is not its own.”
“Hezbollah must lay down its arms, respect the national interest, show that it is not a militia acting on foreign orders, and allow the Lebanese to come together to preserve their country,” he added.
'We see no reason to negotiate,' Araghchi says
In a live interview with NBC, Abbas Araghchi said that Iran “is not seeking a cease-fire.” “We see no reason why we should negotiate with the United States,” he said. “When we negotiated with them twice, they attacked us each time in the middle of the negotiations.”
Araghchi also stressed that Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying that “it is ships and tankers” that are refusing to pass through the waterway.
“We have no intention of closing it for now, but as the war continues, we will consider all scenarios,” he added.
Netanyahu: Israel continues strikes against “terrorist elements in Lebanon”
The Israeli prime minister described cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli armies against Iran as “historic” in a message posted on X. “We continue to strike targets of the terrorist regime in Iran as well as terrorist elements in Lebanon. The results are significant, but there is still considerable work to be done,” and added: “I thank my friend President Trump for the cooperation between us and between Israel and the United States. Together, we will continue to carry out our missions, with God’s help.”
Beirut southern suburbs: Al-Sahel hospital closed and evacuated, Bahman hospital being evacuated
Al-Sahel Hospital, in Beirut’s southern suburbs and located within the area threatened by Israel, has been temporarily closed and its patients transferred to other hospitals in Beirut, the new head of the Syndicate of Hospital Owners, Dr. Pierre Yared, confirmed to L’Orient-Le Jour.
Another facility, Bahman Hospital, also in the southern suburbs, is currently being evacuated, he added.
According to Dr. Yared, no other hospitals are currently on the list of facilities to be evacuated. Asked about the treatment of the wounded, he said that, for now, hospitals in the affected regions – in southern Lebanon and in the Bekaa – remain able to treat casualties in their respective areas, and that no transfers to Beirut have yet been necessary.
'We must finish the job,” Danny Danon says in New York
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, spoke Thursday at a press briefing in New York about the course of the war against Iran.
Although he said that “diplomacy will come into play,” he added: “We must first finish the job and dismantle the terror machine they have built over so many years,” referring to the Iranian regime.
The war “will not last forever,” he said, mentioning “weeks or days.” “We must continue striking to dismantle their capabilities, and then use diplomacy to ensure they do not start again. Because if the regime continues, it will only be a matter of years before we find ourselves at the same point, talking about a new attack against it,” he continued.
“We must build a stronger mechanism. We are all familiar with the Vienna nuclear agreement, which failed, and with the negotiations. We will need to put in place real, effective mechanisms that will prevent Iran from becoming a threat,” he added.
Trump: US will have a role in choosing Iran's next leader
U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday that the United States will have a role in choosing Iran's next leader.
Trump said it was very early in the process of picking a new leader but that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba was an unlikely choice.
"We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future," Trump said.
"We don't have to go back every five years and do this again and again ... Somebody that's going to be great for the people, great for the country."
Iran has launched more than 500 missiles and 2,000 drones since Saturday, report says
Iran has launched more than 500 missiles as well as around 2,000 drones since Saturday, a military source told the Iranian news agency Fars, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards.
According to the report, around 40 percent of the strikes targeted Israel, while nearly 60 percent were directed at U.S. targets in the region.
Israeli army will continue to 'Systematically strike Hezbollah,” spokesperson says
At a press briefing, Israeli army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said that Israel “continues to systematically strike Hezbollah and pursue the organization’s militants throughout the country,” reporting “320 Hezbollah terrorist targets, including around 80 over the past 24 hours.”
“Our war is not against the people of Lebanon,” he said, estimating that 300,000 people had evacuated southern Lebanon “so far.”
“Over the past two years, we have inflicted very severe blows on Hezbollah, on its leadership, with the operation,” he added. “We continue to strike it daily: its infrastructure, its attempts to rebuild. It knew what it was getting into and is now paying a heavy price … We will continue to intensify the strikes and insist on dismantling Hezbollah of its weapons … We will continue striking until it is dismantled.”
In response to a question, he said there is “no concrete information indicating coordination between Hezbollah and Iran.” “At times … fire is launched at roughly the same time from Iran and from Hezbollah, which may appear coordinated. Hezbollah is a branch of Iran and serves the Iranian terrorist regime; it relies on the Quds Force, but the coordination is not that close. We continue to operate in Lebanon and Iran with full freedom. We will continue until these threats are eliminated,” he said.
Israeli strike in west Bekaa kills three
An Israeli strike targeted the northern outskirts of Lebbaya, in the west Bekaa, killing three people and wounding several others, our regional correspondent reported.
According to testimonies from residents, the strike hit a house where a father and four children were staying. The mother was not present at the time of the attack.
Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran's next leader: Axios
U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone call that he demands to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, just as he did in Venezuela, Axios reported.
"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said.
He added that he refuses to accept a new leader who would follow in former assassinated leader Ali Khamenei. He said such a leader would "force the U.S. back to war in five years."
Iran denies targeting US embassy in Riyadh
Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, categorically denied that his country struck the United States embassy in the kingdom this week, as Riyadh had accused.
“No drones were launched from Iran toward the U.S. embassy in Riyadh,” the ambassador said in an exclusive interview with AFP.
“If Tehran’s operations command attacks anywhere, it takes responsibility for it,” he added.
Aoun asks Macron 'to intervene so that the southern suburbs are not targeted'
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked French President Emmanuel Macron “to intervene so that the southern suburbs are not targeted, following threats from the Israeli army,” the presidency said on X.
He also requested that Macron “work toward a cease-fire as soon as possible,” it added.
Hezbollah says it targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in Blat (Marjayoun)
Hezbollah announced that it targeted a group of Israeli soldiers at the Blat site in the Marjayoun district at 4:55 p.m. using a guided missile, claiming it hit the target directly.
Berri to Macron: This situation constitutes 'a real danger for Lebanon'
A phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri took place this Thursday, al-Jadeed reported. The conversation focused on the urgent situation caused by the Israeli attack on Lebanon, as well as the latest developments in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the evacuation of its residents.
According to Berri, the situation constitutes “a real danger for Lebanon.” The Parliament Speaker said he discussed with the French president several proposals that could help resolve it.
President Macron expressed his readiness to make the necessary contacts and provide aid to Lebanon as soon as possible, while General Fabien Mandon, chief of staff of the French Armed Forces, arrived in Beirut Thursday afternoon.
MEA statement on its flights
In a statement, Middle East Airlines (MEA) clarified that, contrary to rumors, it is maintaining its regular flight schedule from Beirut as of March 5, 2026.
The national airline also reminded passengers of the contact numbers available:
- Landline: 01-629999
- Hotlines: 1330, 1320
- Mobile: 81-477905 to 81-477908
Lebanon says death toll from Israeli strikes since Monday up to 102
The Lebanese health ministry said on Thursday that the death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon has risen to 102 since the country was drawn into regional war earlier this week.
The ministry added that 638 people have also been wounded since Monday, adding that the tolls were likely to increase as hospitals receive more victims.
Israel says it killed Hamas commander in Tripoli
The Israeli army announced that it targeted and killed a Hamas commander, Wasim Attallah Ali, in Tripoli, northern Lebanon.
In a statement released on Telegram, the Israeli army said that naval forces were responsible for the killing of Wasim Attallah Ali and claimed that he was training Hamas fighters. Hamas has not responded so far.
Beirut airport is open, but the road leading to it is 'closed due to ongoing evacuations'
Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rassamny, told the local channel MTV that “Beirut airport remains open and flights are on schedule.”
However, he said that the “road leading to the airport is closed due to ongoing evacuations” from Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the airport is located.
Israeli call to evacuate southern suburbs: UN special coordinator describes a 'nightmare'
The U.N.’s special coordinator, Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, commented on Israel’s evacuation warning for the southern suburbs, writing on X:
"An evacuation order for whole swathes of Beirut’s southern suburbs. People fleeing the south of Lebanon in droves. The country is again living a nightmare. But neither side can strike their way to a lasting solution."
Testimony: 'I didn’t tell my children anything. But on the road, they understood and started crying.'
A woman and her two children, originally from the Bekaa, but living in Ouzai (Beirut’s southern suburbs) said she fled her home and is now in the city center.
“I didn’t tell my children anything, just that we had to leave. But on the road, they understood and started crying,” she says. “I’m afraid I won’t find a place to stay, no one is helping. There’s no more solidarity.”
Testimony in Beirut: 'We can’t speak, we are devastated.'
In front of al-Amin Mosque, in downtown Beirut, traffic is heavy and chaotic. Two police officers are trying to manage the situation. People are parking in garages. Inside the cars are entire families. Terror is visible in the children’s eyes. In a pickup truck, women sit with their babies under blankets. “We can’t speak, we are devastated,” a woman told L’Orient-Le Jour.
Beirut's southern suburbs will 'soon resemble Khan Younis,' says Smotrich
Israeli far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed Thursday in a video posted on social media that Beirut's southern suburbs will "soon resemble Khan Younis,” referring to the city in the southern Gaza Strip, largely razed after more than two years of Israeli offensive against the Palestinian enclave.
Traffic continues to worsen in and around Beirut as 700,000 residents flee capital's southern suburbs
In the streets of Beirut and on the main roads surrounding the capital, massive traffic jams have formed as the approximately 700,000 residents of the southern suburbs rush to leave following the Israeli order for a mass evacuation.
The traffic jams are particularly concentrated along the Damascus highway to the east and on the highway leading to Metn to the North.
On the roads, many private cars, packed with entire families, are crammed together, along with ambulances, trucks (some carrying cows), hearses... Everyone is fleeing with everything they could hold on to.
Testimony: 'My mother doesn’t want to leave, so we’re both staying in Chiyah'
Hussein Ayash’s 73-year-old mother refuses to leave her home on AbdelKarim Street in Chiyah, one of the neighborhoods mentioned in the mass Israeli evacuation order.
“She doesn’t want to end up on the street. ‘I’d rather die at home,’ she told me,” her son told L’Orient Today.
Ayash, 35, explains that he hasn’t been able to convince her to leave. “So we’re both staying in Chiyah,” he says.
Subscribe for unlimited access to information, updates and independent reporting
Our reporting and analysis bring a perspective few others can: that of women and men rooted here — people who know the region, its history, its nuances and its divisions inside out. For you, our journalists verify, cross-check and explain.
To truly understand what’s happening on the ground, you need them.
And to remain fully independent, we need you.
Unprecedented Israeli evacuation orders in Lebanon
After ordering the evacuation of all towns and villages south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the Israeli army has now taken a further step by calling on residents of the entire southern suburbs of Beirut to leave at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Even during the previous war in Lebanon in the fall of 2024, the Israeli army never implemented such massive evacuation measures, now encompassing entire regions, without distinguishing between towns and neighborhoods.
South Lebanon updates
As residents of the southern suburbs flee the area following the Israeli evacuation order, the Israeli army continues to strike the south of the country. Hezbollah, for its part, is targeting an Israeli force advancing toward Markaba.
Airstrikes targeted Shaqra (Bint Jbeil), Qaaqa'ait al-Jisr, Yohmor al-Shaqif (both located in Nabatieh), and Siddiqine (Sour), according to our correspondent in the South. Heavy artillery fire also targeted Khiam (Marjayoun), again according to our correspondent.
An Israeli drone strike on Housh (Sour) targeted a crane used for moving motorcycles. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, our correspondent reported.
Hezbollah stated that after monitoring an Israeli force's advance at 12:30 p.m. from the Manara site toward the town of Markaba (Marjayoun) with the aim of establishing a military position, its fighters retaliated with two salvos of rockets, directly hitting their targets.
Our correspondent also reports an airstrike against Qantara (Marjayoun).
Here is a copy of the map published by the Israeli army around 3 p.m., when they ordered the complete evacuation of Beirut's southern suburbs in preparation for impending bombings.
The blurred outlines of the map posted by the Israeli army make it impossible to precisely determine the perimeter of the areas threatened by bombing.
It is impossible to determine whether these outlines are limited to the administrative boundaries of the neighborhoods in Beirut's southern suburbs that are usually targeted or whether they appear to extend into other areas.
Update on the situation at Beirut airport
“At this stage, there is no change” regarding flights to Lebanon, according to a source at Beirut airport and one within Middle East Airlines.
There is “no change for the moment” regarding flights to and from Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, following the mass evacuation order issued by Israel for most neighborhoods in the area, a source at the airport and one within Middle East Airlines (MEA) told L’Orient-Le Jour.
“This shouldn’t have any impact, but everything depends on the strikes. But at this stage, there is no change,” explained the source at the airport.
MEA continued to operate in the fall of 2024, even at the height of the Israeli bombing campaign in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Israel strikes southern district, Hezbollah targets Israeli force advancing towards Markaba
*Israeli airstrikes targeted Shaqra (Bint Jbeil), Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr (Nabatieh), Siddiqine (Sour), our correspondent in the South reported.
Heavy artillery shelling also targeted Khiam (Marjayoun).
*Hezbollah said that after monitoring the advance of an Israeli force at 12:30 p.m. head from the Manara site toward the town of Markaba (Marjayoun) to establish a military position, its fighters targeted them with two rounds of rocket fire, achieving direct hits.
*An Israeli drone strike on Hosh (Sour) targeted a crane used for transporting motorcycles, and ambulances were rushed to the scene, our correspondent reported.
Saint-Therese Medical Center in Hadath evacuates non-essential staff
At Saint-Therese Medical Center in Hadath, all non-essential staff were evacuated, but there was not enough time to evacuate patients, including those in critical condition.
Those who remain have taken refuge in the hospital wing furthest from the evacuation zone indicated by the Israeli army, Director Elie Hachem told L'Orient Today.
Testimonies from Burj al-Barajneh: Where would we go?
“We are staying. Where do you want us to go? God willing, they won’t strike us. There is nothing here,” says Sara, who lives in Burj al-Barajneh, even though yesterday’s strike on a car on the airport road occurred less than 500 meters from her home.
“You don’t see what is circulating on social media. We are not welcome anywhere. So I prefer to stay at home,” Sara continues.
She adds that two other families have remained in the building, while one family with three children was packing their belongings to leave and “wait in their car somewhere safe.”
Residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs attempt to flee
After the Israeli army issued a mass evacuation order for the southern suburbs of Beirut, panic spread in the affected neighborhoods. Many residents are fleeing in whichever way they can.
When they saw the Israeli announcements, Alya*’s parents, in Chiyah, tried to leave the southern suburbs by car but quickly got stuck in heavy traffic.
They parked their car on the side of the old Saida road and are now walking on foot toward Tayyouneh, Alya* told L’Orient Today.
“We simply do not have the means to rent a house outside the southern suburbs, and staying in a school hosting displaced people would be overwhelming,” their daughter explains.
Testimonies from Chiyah: My mom refuses to leave, so we’ll both stay
Hussein Ayash’s 73-year-old mom is refusing to leave her house in AbdelKarim Street in Chiyah because she doesn’t want to “be stranded on the street. I would rather die in my house.”
Her son, 35, says he was not able to “convince her to leave,” so he will stay with her.
Salam calls for arrest, repatriation of anyone in Lebanon linked to Revolutionary Guard
During a Cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for the arrest of any Iranian figure in Lebanon linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Salam “asked the Cabinet to decide to request the relevant ministries and agencies to take the necessary measures to prevent any military or security activity by the Revolutionary Guard with a view to their arrest and repatriation to Iran,” stated Information Minister Paul Morcos.
This call came after the Israeli army issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Tuesday to Iranian figures in Lebanon, demanding they leave the country before targeting them with airstrikes. Tehran retaliated by threatening to strike Israeli embassies worldwide if its citizens were targeted in Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah fire on Israeli soldiers near Kfar Kila: Situation in south Lebanon
— Hezbollah fired on an Israeli force deployed in Lebanese territory, in Tal al-Nahhas, between Kfar Kila and Burj al-Muluk in the Marjayoun district, reports our correspondent in the South.
— Heavy airstrikes hit Toul and Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh).
Israel issues evacuation order for entirety of Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh, Hadath, Chiyah in Beirut's southern suburbs
The Israeli army, in a message from its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, called for the complete evacuation of the Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh, Hadath and Chiyah neighborhoods in Beirut's southern suburbs.
"Residents of the Burj al-Barajneh and Hadath neighborhoods: please head east, toward Mount Lebanon, via the Beirut-Damascus road," Avichay Adraee wrote on X. "Residents of the Haret Hreik and Chiyah neighborhoods: you must move north, toward Tripoli via the Beirut-Tripoli road, and east, toward Mount Lebanon, via the Metn highway," he added.
"Any movement south could endanger your lives," he added, emphasizing that the Israeli army "will inform them of the appropriate time to return to their homes."
Hezbollah claims it struck Israeli military industry complex south of Acre
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a rocket strike on a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems complex, one of the leading companies in the sector, south of Acre, about 20 kilometers from the Lebanese border. This is the second attack claimed by the party since this morning.
Israeli airstrikes today have killed at least 10 people in south Lebanon, Bekaa
The provisional death toll from the Israeli military strikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley has risen to at least 10, according to reports from our correspondents.
— In southern Lebanon, four members of the Chamseddine family were killed in a bombing raid on their home in the village of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh district) overnight.
— Another man, Hadi Ali Britaa, also died overnight following an airstrike in Harouf (Nabatieh).
— This morning, two more people were killed in an airstrike in Roumin (Nabatieh).
— This afternoon, another casualty was reported in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh).
— In the Bekaa Valley, in Zahle, an Israeli drone strike killed Internal Security Forces (ISF) warrant officer Ali Mazloum while he was traveling in a car with his nephew, Mohammad Jamal.
The Health Ministry announced Wednesday evening in its latest statement that the official death toll from the Israeli offensive against Lebanon had risen to at least 72, with 437 injured since dawn on Monday, March 2.
Death toll from US, Israeli attacks on Iran rises to 1,230
The death toll from U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran since Saturday has reached 1,230, reports the Iranian news agency, Tasnim.
Iran denies targeting Azerbaijan
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied that Iran had targeted Azerbaijan, which had previously claimed that two Iranian drones had struck its autonomous enclave of Nakhchivan, including a building at the airport.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran did not target the Republic of Azerbaijan," Gharibabadi stated, as reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim. "We do not target our neighboring countries."
He added, "Iran's policy is solely to strike the military bases of its enemies" active in the region and used to attack Iran, including those of the United States and Israel.
Iran accuses Israel, US of 'deliberately' targeting civilian areas
Iran has accused Israel and the United States of "deliberately" targeting civilian areas in their war against the Islamic Republic, which began six days ago, AFP reports.
"Our people are being brutally massacred as the aggressors deliberately target civilian areas and any place they believe will inflict maximum suffering and loss of life," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said in a message posted on X.
Hezbollah targeted Israeli vehicles on Markaba-Houla road
Hezbollah targeted Israeli vehicles near one of the positions occupied by the Israeli army in Lebanese territory, on the Markaba-Houla road (Marjayoun district), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Abu Dhabi: 6 injured by drone debris
Six foreign workers were injured in an industrial zone in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, by falling debris from an intercepted drone, authorities in the Gulf emirate announced.
Authorities reported an “incident involving falling debris at two locations in the ICAD 2 area, following the successful interception of a drone,” which resulted in “minor to moderate injuries to Pakistani and Nepalese nationals.”
Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims it targeted Israel's Ben Gurion airport with missiles
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for targeting Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel and an airbase in the area on the sixth day of the war.
"Heavy Khorramshahr-4 missiles, carrying a one-ton warhead, were launched at dawn today ... toward the heart of Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, and the base of the 27th Air Force Squadron located at the airport," the Guard said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.
Qatar is working to intercept missiles
Qatar has been targeted by a missile attack, and its defense systems are working to intercept them, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
AFP journalists in the Qatari capital, Doha, heard a series of loud explosions and saw a column of black smoke on the horizon. Qatar and other Gulf states have been subjected to a campaign of retaliation by Tehran since the Israeli-American attack launched in Iran on Saturday.
European countries deploy naval assets to Cyprus after drone attacks
Italy, Spain, France, and the Netherlands are sending naval assets to Cyprus to protect the island in the coming days, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament.
The Spanish Defense Ministry indicated in a statement that Madrid would send a frigate. Greece and France also announced they would send assets to the island after a British airbase there was targeted on Monday by an Iranian-made drone.
These announcements come as the British Defense Secretary is scheduled to visit the island later today.
Azerbaijan says drone attack on its territory will not go unanswered
Two people were injured by two Iranian drones that struck the Nakhchivan exclave in Azerbaijan on Thursday, Baku announced. The country summoned the Iranian ambassador and stated that the attack would not go unanswered.
"One drone struck the terminal of the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another drone crashed near a school building in the village of Shakarabad," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran, which damaged the airport building and injured two civilians," it added. The Nakhchivan exclave borders Iran and is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenia.
A video published by the Azerbaijani agency APA, not verified by AFP, shows a drone crashing near the airport's entrance building, causing an explosion.
Situation in south Lebanon: 2 killed in strike on Roumin, Israeli artillery continues to target several villages
— An Israeli attack earlier this Thursday on Roumin (Nabatieh district) killed two people, according to our correspondent in the South.
— Israeli artillery bombardments targeted the towns of Maroun al-Ras, Sultanieh, Khirbet Silm, Majdal Selm and Froun (all in the Bint Jbeil district), as well as Souaneh and Taybeh (Marjayoun), Zibqine and Toul (Nabatieh), Louaizeh (Jezzine), Maarakeh (Sour) and Shebaa (Hasbaya), according to our correspondent.
— Lebanese Civil Defense teams recovered the body of a man killed in Debbine, who was killed in an Israeli strike on his home last night.
— White phosphorus bombs targeted Khiam, according to our correspondent. On Wednesday, Hezbollah reported ground fighting with the Israeli army, which is advancing on the town.
Why have thousands of Syrian soldiers been deployed to the border with Lebanon?
The Iranian embassy in Damascus was looted by protesters after the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024. (Credit: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
Since the start of the regional war, thousands of Syrian soldiers have been deployed to the border with Lebanon and Iraq. Syria claims to have mobilized them to remain neutral in the conflict. But Hezbollah suspects foul play.
🔗Can the Syrian president intervene in Lebanon? Read Salah Hijazi's article to find out more.
Second Iranian warship is heading towards Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean
A second Iranian warship is heading towards Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, the day after an Iranian frigate was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine, killing at least 87 people, a Sri Lankan minister told the island's parliament.
Sri Lankan Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Iranian vessel was just outside territorial waters, without providing further details. More than 100 crew members are believed to be on board, according to official sources who expressed concern that it could be targeted, as was the case with the Iranian frigate sunk on Wednesday off the southern coast of the South Asian country.
More information here.
Israeli army claims to have destroyed Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army claims to have struck and "eliminated a Hezbollah cell" operating from a command post in southern Lebanon, according to a message and video released by Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee.
During the night, forces from the 91st Division "spotted several Hezbollah members entering a site belonging to the movement in the area of operations of our forces in southern Lebanon," Adraee stated, and the air force "immediately targeted them."
The army did not specify where the strike took place.
Coordination between Hezbollah, Iran 'not as close' as it could have been: Israeli military
The Israeli military asserted that its strikes against Iran since Feb. 28 continued to “shake” the Islamic Republic’s “regime,” stating that there was no confirmation of “coordination” between Hezbollah and Iran since the party entered the war on Monday.
“We continue to deepen the blows to the regime,” military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told reporters. “It was shaken from the very first strike on Saturday morning, when the leadership was neutralized. And every day, we continue to shake it further, deepening the damage inflicted upon it until the existential threat is eliminated,” he affirmed.
“With each passing day, the Iranian terrorist regime weakens and loses its grip” on the country, the spokesperson reiterated. “We are also continuing to systematically strike and hunt down Hezbollah” in Lebanon.
“So far, we have struck more than 320 Hezbollah terrorist targets, including about 80 in the last 24 hours alone,” Defrin specified. “There is no concrete intelligence indicating coordination between Hezbollah and Iran,” he added.
“It is true that sometimes, and this happened yesterday [Wednesday], a salvo [of missiles] from Iran and a salvo from Hezbollah occurred at roughly the same time, which gives the impression of coordination ... But the coordination is not that close,” he concluded.
Map: Israeli strikes on Lebanon overnight March 4-5
Israeli military claims it identified Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military claimed on Thursday it struck and killed a group of militants operating from a Hezbollah command post in southern Lebanon, Haaretz reported.
The statement claimed that soldiers from Division 91 identified overnight several Hezbollah members entering a building "used as the group's headquarters."
Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah announces commander killed in Israeli-US strike
The pro-Iranian Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah announced that one of its commanders had been killed the previous day in an Israeli-U.S. strike on southern Iraq.
Secretary-General Ahmad al-Hamidawi mourned in a statement the loss of “great commander” Ali Hussein al-Freiji, who had joined the movement over two decades ago.
Two sources within the faction told AFP on Wednesday that a strike had targeted a vehicle near the group's main base in southern Iraq, killing two fighters. The death toll then rose to three, including the commander.
South Lebanon: Four killed by Israeli strike on Zawtar Sharqieh
This morning’s Israeli strike on Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) killed four people, all from the family of Abdel Hussein Shamseddine, sources told our correspondent.
Separately, an employee responsible for maintaining electrical generators was hit by an Israeli strike on Sour on Wednesday. Today, he succumbed to his wounds.
South Lebanon: Israeli strikes on Sour and Nabatieh districts, house blown up in Wazzani
- In the Sour district: Israeli airstrikes targeted Siddiqine and Ghandourieh, where one person was killed.
- In the Nabatieh district: Israeli airstrikes hit Roumin, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Iqlim al-Tuffah, Maydfoun and Breikeh
- In the Bint Jbeil district: Israeli airstrikes on Kafra.
- In the Marjayoun district: An Israeli army unit blew up a house in Wazzani.
Hezbollah claims missile fire on Israeli bases overnight
Hezbollah said it launched at 2:40 a.m. a “barrage of missiles” toward “Israeli positions” located in the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel.
The attack was carried out “in response to the criminal Israeli aggression against dozens of Lebanese towns and villages and Beirut’s southern suburb,” according to a statement published on its Telegram channel.
An Internal Security Forces member and his nephew killed in strike on Zahle
The two victims of the Israeli drone strike on a car in Zahle were an Internal Security Forces member, Ali Mazloum, and his nephew, Mohammad Jamal, according to sources cited by our local correspondent.
Drone crash in Azerbaijan leaves two wounded, Baku summons Iran’s ambassador
Azerbaijan accused Iran of firing two drones onto its territory, wounding two people, and said it had summoned the Iranian ambassador following the incident.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said one drone crashed at an airport in Nakhitchevan, near the border with Iran, while another landed near a school.
In a statement, it condemned the attacks and demanded explanations from Tehran. Baku also said it reserved the right to take “appropriate retaliatory measures.”
Iran says will target Israeli nuclear site if regime change is sought
Iran will target the Israeli nuclear site of Dimona if Israel and the U.S. seek regime change in the Islamic Republic, semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday, citing an Iranian military official, according to Reuters.
Katz said his US counterpart assured him of Washington's backing for joint military campaign against Iran
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth assured him of Washington's firm backing for their joint military campaign against Iran and urged him to continue the operation "to the end."
"The secretary of defense said: 'Keep going to the end. We are with you,'" Katz said, referring to an overnight conversation between the two, according to a statement issued by the Israeli minister's office on Thursday, as cited by Reuters.
Hezbollah claims responsibility for missile strike against Israeli bases overnight
Hezbollah stated that it launched a "salvo of missiles" at 2:40 a.m. toward "Israeli positions" located in the Finger of Galilee, in northern Israel.
This attack was carried out "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression against dozens of Lebanese cities and villages and the southern suburbs of Beirut," according to a statement published on its Telegram channel.
This is the first operation claimed by the party on Thursday, after having carried out 23 the previous day.
Situation in south Lebanon, at 10:45 a.m.: Israel strikes Sour, Nabatieh, dynamites house in Wazzani
— Airstrikes targeted Siddiqine, Ghandourieh, where one person was killed (Sour district), Roumin, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Maidfoun, Brayqeh, the heights of Iqlim al-Tuffah (Nabatieh), and the outskirts of Kafra (Bint Jbeil).
— According to the latest available figures from our correspondent's sources in the South, this morning's strike on Zawtar Sharqieh killed four people, all members of Abdel Hussein Chamseddine's family. An employee responsible for maintaining the electrical generators targeted in Sour on Wednesday succumbed to his injuries.
— An Israeli army unit blew up a house in Wazzani (Marjayoun).
Subscribe to get full access to our analysis and reporting on the latest in the region
📰 Our reporting and analysis bring a perspective few others can: that of women and men rooted here — people who know the region, its history, its nuances and its divisions inside out. For you, our journalists verify, cross-check and explain.
To truly understand what’s happening on the ground, you need them.
And to remain fully independent, we need you.
Iran will target Israel's Dimona nuclear facility if regime change is sought, Iranian official threatens
An Iranian military official has threatened to target Israel's Dimona nuclear site in the Negev desert if the United States seeks to overthrow the Islamic Republic, Reuters reported, citing a statement published by the ISNA news agency.
Two killed in Israeli drone strike on vehicle in Zahle, Bekaa Valley
An Israeli drone strike targeted a car traveling on a road in Zahle, Bekaa Valley, killing two people inside, according to our correspondent in the region.
Israeli drones are also flying at low altitude over several villages in eastern Bekaa Valley, including Janata, Nabi Sheet and Shaara, as well as other surrounding villages, our correspondent reports.
? Our ☕Morning Brief☕ is ready with everything you need to know this Thursday
Israel orders 'evacuation' of all regions south of Litani, US reaffirms 'support' for war on Iran: 🔗 Here is our Morning Brief with everything you need to know this Thursday
In image: Scene of destruction after overnight Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs
(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient-Le Jour)
A man walks on the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli bombing carried out during the night, on the morning of March 5, in the Ghobeiri district, in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Israeli army reports 'operations' by its 810th Brigade in Shebaa Farms
The Israeli army issued a brief statement, accompanied by photos, announcing that its "Mountains" Brigade (810) is operating on "Mount Dov in Lebanon," the name given to the disputed Shebaa Farms, in the eastern sector of the border.
The 810th Brigade operates under the command of the 210th Division, according to the army, which emphasizes that it is conducting "targeted operations to uncover Hezbollah infrastructure."
Hamas official and his wife killed in overnight strike on Beddawi
The victim of the overnight strike on the Palestinian refugee camp of Beddawi in northern Lebanon was the Hamas leader in the region, according to our local correspondent.
The Israeli bombing, the first in the north since the escalation began on Monday, left two dead and one seriously wounded, the Health Ministry reported earlier.
The man targeted has been identified as Wassim Atallah al-Ali, who was killed along with his wife in an Israeli drone strike on the apartment where they were staying in the camp, near Tripoli. Their children were wounded.
This is the first leader of the Palestinian movement killed in Lebanon since the escalation began. According to a statement released by Hamas, Ali was "a teacher and memorizer of the Quran, born in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in 1986. His wife, Zeinab Toufic Abou al-Hajl, was also a teacher, born in Nahr al-Bared in 1987."
After the raid, the atmosphere was tense in the camp, according to our correspondent, and heavy gunfire was heard.
At least 4 people killed in new Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon early this morning
The latest series of bombings carried out by the Israeli air force in southern Lebanon on Thursday morning killed at least four people, according to our correspondent in the region.
The deadliest strike was carried out at dawn against the village of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh district), where three members of the same family were killed.
The village chief said that the victims belonged to the family of Abdel Hussein Chamseddine, who was killed along with his wife and one of their children. The family had remained in the village to tend to their livestock and run their business when their house was targeted and destroyed, he added.
Another man was killed Wednesday evening in a raid in Harouf (Nabatieh), our correspondent reports. The victim's name was Hadi Ali Britaa.
Furthermore, other strikes caused injuries in the towns of Majadel (Sour) and Deir Kifa (Nabatieh), though the exact number of casualties remains unknown.
Finally, Israeli warplanes also bombed the villages of Zibqine (Sour), Tallousa, Touline, Odaisseh, and Deir Siryan (Marjayoun).
Iranian bombers nearly struck US base in Qatar before being shot down
Iranian warplanes nearly struck the largest military base housing U.S. troops in the Middle East, al-Udeid in Qatar, overnight, according to two sources familiar with the operation who spoke to CNN.
The attack was thwarted by Qatari aircraft that shot down the bombers before they could reach the base. This was the first air combat mission conducted by the Qatari air force, CNN reports.
Israeli army renews evacuation order for residents south of Litani River, including those in Sour, Bint Jbeil
In a statement similar to the one issued the previous day, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, reiterated his order to residents of all localities south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon to "immediately evacuate their homes" and move north of the river.
"Residents of southern Lebanon, to ensure your safety, we reiterate our request to immediately evacuate your homes and move north beyond the Litani River ... Anyone who is near Hezbollah members, facilities, or combat equipment is putting their life in danger."
“Any house used by Hezbollah for military purposes can be targeted,” the spokesperson said in a video accompanied by a map highlighting the entire border area, representing nearly 8 percent of Lebanese territory, in red.
“We reiterate that the warning also includes the residents of Sour and Bint Jbeil,” the statement clarified, referring to the two main cities in the area, home to tens of thousands of residents.
Israeli army announced it launched new strikes on Tehran
The Israeli army stated it had launched a wave of attacks against the Iranian capital, Tehran.
"The Israeli army has just launched a wave of large-scale attacks against the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime throughout Tehran," it said in a statement.
Israel claims it made 'historic gains' with US thanks to war against Iran
Israel has claimed to have made "historic progress" in its protection thanks to the war waged with the United States against Iran.
"Israel and the United States have together made historic progress in protecting our citizens and the civilized world," said Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video message.
She also asserted that the attack was necessary because Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program in "new underground bunkers" and that there were signs that Iran was planning "to attack Israel and American forces in the Middle East."
Middle East war: New Iranian missiles strike Israel, explosion on tanker in Kuwait
On the sixth day of the Middle East war:
— Qatar announced this morning that it was evacuating residents living near the U.S. embassy as a precaution, following Iranian strikes on the Gulf state.
— An oil tanker anchored in Kuwait, off the coast of Mubarak al-Kabeer, suffered a "powerful explosion" and is leaking fuel after one of its tanks was damaged, according to the British maritime safety agency UKTMO. Oil leaked from the ship, but the crew is safe and no fire broke out, the agency said, recommending caution to ships in the Gulf region.
— Saudi Arabia reported shooting down three cruise missiles near the city of al-Kharj (central Saudi Arabia).
— Explosions were heard in Jerusalem following Iranian missile strikes, according to AFP. Despite this, the Israeli army announced it planned to ease restrictions related to the state of emergency, imposed since the start of the Iranian bombing campaign on the country on Feb. 28, beginning Thursday at midday.
Several strikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs overnight
Beirut's southern suburbs were also bombed overnight. Strikes targeted Ghobeiri and Haret Hreik, following two warnings issued by the Israeli army concerning buildings in these two neighborhoods.
Earlier, a strike also targeted Choueifat, south of Beirut.
Strikes in South continued overnight
Israeli bombing of southern Lebanon continued overnight, with strikes and artillery fire targeting about ten villages, according to our local correspondent.
These strikes notably targeted Qabrikha, Safad al-Batikh, Jmaijmeh, Wadi Sluqi, Touline, Qleileh, Jermaq, Mahmoudiyeh and Zeghrine (Jezzine), the area around Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Toul, Kfar Roummane and Zawtar.
In Qleileh, a drone strike on a car killed three people, according to the state-run National News Agency.
According to our correspondent, 42 airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon throughout Wednesday until midnight, and two drone strikes and artillery shells were fired at 13 villages.
For its part, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 23 attacks against Israeli targets and asserted that it was conducting battles against Israeli soldiers along the border, both in the western sector, at the level of Dhaira, and in the east, at the level of Khiam.
First Israeli strike on northern Lebanon since escalation began kills 2
Overnight, an Israeli Air Force fighter jet targeted an apartment in the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, killing two people and wounding one, according to the Health Ministry.
This was the first airstrike targeting northern Lebanon since the escalation began on Monday. According to Israel's Channel 14, a senior Hamas official in Lebanon was among those targeted in the raid.
Good morning. We are now launching our LIVE coverage of the fourth day of escalating tensions in Lebanon
We are now launching our live coverage of this fourth day of escalating tensions in Lebanon, which has been relentlessly bombarded by Israeli aircraft since Sunday night into Monday morning following an initial rocket attack by Hezbollah.
Since then, the party has claimed responsibility for dozens of rocket and drone attacks targeting Israel, while the Israeli army continues to expand its presence in southern Lebanon.
We will also be following this live coverage of the fifth day of the ongoing war against Iran. As Iranian territory continues to be targeted by Israel and the United States, Tehran is retaliating by launching attacks against Israel and American infrastructure in the Gulf monarchies.
For details of the last 24 hours, see our live coverage from Wednesday here.
Already have an account? Login here
You have reached your article limit
Iran-US-Lebanon: Everything can change in an instant.
Stay informed for only $6.9/month for 1 year, instead of $12.9.
This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers.
Already have an account? Login here
