Israel claims first strike on northern Iran since launch of war; Israeli attack kills 6 people in Bekaa | LIVE

Missile debris falls in Abu Dhabi; no injuries reported, according to media office

The Abu Dhabi Media Office announced late in the evening that the authorities were dealing with two incidents involving falling debris following the successful interception of missiles targeting the Habshan gas facility and the Bab oil field in the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reports.

It stated that no one was injured in the incident and that operations at the Habshan gas facility have been suspended.

Iran threatens Washington with destruction of energy infrastructure in event of further attack on its own

Iran has threatened the United States and Israel with the destruction of energy infrastructure, following an attack on its own facilities serving the vast South Pars/North Dome gas field, which has been attributed to Israel, reports AFP.

“We warn you once again that you have made a grave mistake by attacking the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure and that the response to this attack is underway,” announced the Revolutionary Guards, as several gas and oil sites were targeted in the Gulf during the evening.

“If this happens again, the attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not cease until their total destruction, and our retaliation will be far more severe than last night’s attacks,” the source stated in a communiqué released by the Iranian news agencies IRIB and Fars.

Iraq: Hezbollah Brigades group prepared to suspend attacks on US embassy for five days, subject to conditions

The influential Iraqi armed group, the Hezbollah Brigades, has said it would suspend its attacks on the U.S. embassy for five days, subject to certain conditions, Reuters reports.

The conditions set out by the group in a statement include Israel halting forced displacement and strikes targeting residents of the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as a commitment not to bomb residential areas in Baghdad and other provinces.

Lebanon: Israeli air strikes on the Bekaa Valley this evening

Further Israeli air strikes targeted the Bekaa Valley this evening, notably the town of Yohmor and the area around Zalaya in the Western Bekaa, our correspondent in the region reported.

Meanwhile, the Israeli attack on the town of Shaath (Baalbeck) earlier in the evening killed at least six people, including Hussein Mohammad al-Nimr, his wife Asmaa al-Kahil, and their children Mohammad, Falak, Hafez and Sarah.

Israel carries out its first strike in northern Iran

The Israeli military has stated that it has carried out air strikes in northern Iran for the first time since the war began on Feb. 28, with Iranian news agencies reporting an attack on the port city of Bandar Azali on the Caspian Sea.

“The Israeli Air Force, acting on the basis of military and naval intelligence, has begun striking targets in northern Iran for the first time” since the start of the war triggered on March 28 by the U.S.-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic, the army said in a statement.

The Iranian news agencies ISNA and Tasnim reported in the evening that enemy strikes had hit Bandar Azali.

According to Israeli media, the attack targeted Iranian warships in particular.

Three women were killed in an Iranian missile strike near Hebron, a Palestinian town in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, reports AFP. Reuters, for its part, reports at least two deaths.

Air-raid sirens across southern Israel; suspected rocket fire from Lebanon

Air-raid sirens were sounded on Wednesday evening from northern Israel down to the south of the country, according to the Civil Defence Authority, following what Israeli media described as one or more rocket launches from Lebanon, reports AFP.

Between approximately 8.30 and 9 p.m. local time, sirens sounded in several towns and cities in the north and centre of the country, extending as far south as towns and cities near the Gaza Strip, more than 160 km from the Lebanese border, according to data from the Home Front Command.

Several Israeli media outlets reported that medium-range missiles had been fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah.

The N12 television channel reported that a missile fired from Lebanon had been intercepted over the southern coastal city of Ashdod. When questioned by AFP about this information, the Israeli army did not respond.

If the incident is confirmed, it would be the deepest-reaching attack carried out by Hezbollah since it joined the hostilities on March 2 in support of the Islamic Republic in the war triggered on Feb. 28 by the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

Kuwait claims it foiled attack by 'group affiliated with Hezbollah'

In a statement released on X, the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry announced that the country’s State Security Agency had foiled a “terrorist plot” targeting “vital facilities in the country” which had been prepared by a group affiliated with Hezbollah.

“Ten citizens belonging to a terrorist group affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation Hezbollah have been arrested. They had planned the operation in coordination with foreign entities and were seeking to pass on the coordinates of the targeted sites to them, posing a direct threat to the country’s security,” the ministry continued, without providing a specific timeline.

“Investigations revealed that the cell members had received training abroad in Hezbollah camps, including in the use of weapons and the operation of drones, as part of the preparation for these destructive operations aimed at undermining the state’s sovereignty, destabilising the country and sowing fear within society,” the ministry added, stating that those arrested had confessed.

Qatar declares Iranian military and security attachés persona non grata

The military and security attachés at the Iranian embassy in Doha have been declared persona non grata, Qatar announced on Wednesday, following a missile strike on Ras Laffan, the country’s main gas production facility, Reuters reports.

In a statement, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attachés and their staff had 24 hours to leave the country. The decision follows “repeated attacks and treacherous aggression by Iran” against Qatar, describing the strikes as a “flagrant violation of the principles of international law” and the “rules of good neighbourliness.”

Saudi Arabia: Five drones approaching an energy complex in the east intercepted, according to authorities

Five drones approaching an energy facility were intercepted in eastern Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Defense Ministry reported, as quoted by AFP.

Tehran had threatened on Wednesday to target energy infrastructure in Gulf countries following an attack attributed to the United States and Israel on an Iranian gas site.

The Saudi Ministry reported on its X account the “interception and destruction of five drones that attempted to approach one of the energy facilities in the eastern region.”

The EU calls on Israel to ‘cease’ its operations in Lebanon

Israel “must cease” its operations in Lebanon, due, among other things, to an already “catastrophic” humanitarian situation with over a million people displaced, said a European Union spokesperson, as reported by AFP.

“The EU is deeply concerned by the ongoing Israeli offensive in Lebanon, which is already having devastating humanitarian consequences and risks triggering a protracted conflict,” the spokesperson said in a statement, calling on Israel to “cease” its operations.

The EU also condemned the decision by Hezbollah “to plunge Lebanon into this war, its refusal to lay down its arms and the continuation of its indiscriminate attacks against Israel,” according to the statement.

Attacks against “civilians,” “health workers,” or the U.N. mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, are “unjustified and unacceptable and must cease immediately,” the spokesperson further warned.

The death toll from Israel's attack on a cement factory in the town of Shaath (Baalbeck) has risen from four to six.

Hezbollah claims responsibility for new attacks

Hezbollah stated on Wednesday evening that it had targeted the Israeli al-Marj outpost, opposite the border town of Markaba (Marjayoun), with a barrage of rockets at 2pm on Wednesday.

It also claimed responsibility for an attack at 3 pm on Misgav Am, opposite the border town of Odaisseh, as well as an attack using assault drones on the Israeli military site of al-Raheb, opposite the border town of Aita al-Shaab.

In another statement, it claimed to have targeted, at 6.30 pm, a gathering of Israeli army vehicles north of Taybeh with a barrage of rockets.

The party also claimed responsibility for further rocket barrages, one at 8.30 pm against Nahariya, and the other against the Yodefat military industrial facility, north-east of Haifa.

Saudi Arabia: 4 people injured by shrapnel following missile interception

Four people have been injured by shrapnel in Riyadh following the interception of a missile, according to Saudi authorities, reports AFP.

The Saudi Defense Ministry stated that four ballistic missiles fired towards the capital had been intercepted and destroyed, with a fragment of one of them falling near a refinery south of Riyadh.

Tehran had threatened on Wednesday to target energy infrastructure in the Gulf states following an attack attributed to the United States and Israel on an Iranian gas facility.

United Arab Emirates: UAE air defences in action in response to a new Iranian threat, according to the authorities

Emirati authorities have stated that their air defences are once again in action to intercept missiles, following threats from Iran to attack energy infrastructure in the Gulf in retaliation for Israeli-U.S. strikes, reports AFP.

“Air defenses are currently responding to missile and drone threats from Iran,” the Ministry of Defense reported, adding that “the sounds heard are the result of the interception of missiles and drones.”

Iranian president warns that attacks on energy infrastructure ‘could have uncontrollable consequences’

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has warned of the risk of ‘uncontrollable consequences’ from strikes on energy infrastructure, following the attack on Iranian facilities at the South Pars gas field — which Tehran has blamed on the United States and Israel — reports AFP.

“This will complicate the situation and could have uncontrollable consequences, the scale of which could overwhelm the entire world,” Pezeshkian wrote on X, adding that such attacks “will gain nothing” for Iran’s enemies.

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, added in a separate message, also posted on X, that following the attacks on energy facilities, “a logic of tit-for-tat is now in force and a new level of confrontation has begun.”

Latest developments in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa from our correspondents

In southern Lebanon, an Israeli air strike targeted the village of Srifa (Sour) in the late afternoon.

Later in the early evening, another strike also targeted the village of Hanine (Bint Jbeil), whilst Israeli artillery fired on Ras Naqoura (Sour). A third Israeli strike also targeted the village of Sir al-Gharbieh (Nabatieh).

Our correspondent reported, after 9 pm, several Israeli strikes targeting the towns of Touline and Kabrikha (Marjayoun), as well as the towns of Habboush and Arab Salim (Nabatieh). A further strike also targeted the Qanaiyat inland bridge in the Qasmieh region, which had already been targeted by air strikes earlier in the morning. The bridge was completely destroyed.

Artillery then shelled the villages of Braasheet and Shaqra (Bint Jbeil).

In the Bekaa, our correspondent on the ground reported hearing the sound of an explosion in the vicinity of Baalbeck.

A few minutes later, an air strike targeted a cement factory in the town of Shaath, in the northern Bekaa, killing four people. Searches are ongoing to locate further victims or survivors beneath the rubble.

Gideon Saar to Barrot: 'It is in Israel’s interest for Lebanon to join the circle of normalisation'

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told X that he had spoken with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, who is due in Beirut on Thursday, conveying the message that Hezbollah was obstructing the normalization process between Lebanon and Israel, and that it was up to the Lebanese government to take action against a party that “serves Iranian interests.”

Israel insists that the 'series of assassinations' of Iranian officials 'will not stop'

The Israeli military has insisted that the “series of assassinations” of Iranian officials “will not stop,” claiming to have killed several senior figures in the Iranian regime, reports AFP.

“We will continue to hunt down all senior officials of the regime. The series of eliminations will not stop,” said Effie Defrin, the Israeli army’s spokesperson, in a televised address.

Qatar: Iranian attack on a gas facility; authorities report ‘significant’ damage following a fire

An Iranian attack has caused a fire that has inflicted “considerable” damage on Qatar’s main gas facility, official sources in the Gulf state have announced, as reported by AFP.

Iran had threatened to target energy infrastructure in the Gulf in retaliation for Israeli-U.S. strikes on its own facilities.

Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior stated that the civil defense was “currently dealing with a fire in the Ras Laffan area” following an “Iranian” attack which, according to a statement from the state-owned energy company Qatar Energy, caused “considerable” damage.

US official tells CNN that United States did not attack gas fields in Iran

A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity has denied to CNN that Washington attacked gas fields in Iran, claiming that Israel was behind the attack.

This claim contradicts reports from Iranian state media, which had stated earlier in the day that the U.S. and Israel had attacked parts of its oil and natural gas production facilities, notably South Pars, the world’s largest natural gas field.

An Israeli source had also told CNN earlier in the day that Israel had attacked the Assalouyeh site in south-western Iran, and another Israeli official claimed that the Israeli strike on the South Pars facility in Iran had been carried out in coordination with the United States.

Saudi Arabia says it shot down drone heading for gas facility

Riyadh has claimed to have shot down a drone that was heading for a gas facility in the east of the country, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, reports AFP.

Iran has threatened to target energy infrastructure in the Gulf in retaliation for Israeli-U.S. strikes on its facilities.

“A drone attempting to approach a gas facility in the eastern province was intercepted and destroyed,” the Saudi Defense Ministry said. “The interception and destruction caused no damage.”

Israel announces killing of Hezbollah's Imam Hussein Brigade commander

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it had killed the commander of Hezbollah’s Imam Hussein Brigade, a week after the operation that killed his predecessor.

The Israeli army states that Hassan Marwan, who previously served as the division’s operations officer, took command following the elimination of the previous commander, Ali Muslim Tabaja, and his deputy, Jihad al-Safira, as well as several other commanders.

Hezbollah announces four new operations on the front with Israel

In four new statements numbered 11 to 14, Hezbollah announced several new operations on the front line against Israel in southern Lebanon.

It claims it shot down an Israeli drone on Wednesday March 18 at 2 pm, over the village of Marwanieh in southern Lebanon.

It also claimed responsibility for an attack at 4.30 pm on the Ein Zeitim base, north of the town of Safad, using exploding drones, followed by an attack on a group of Israeli soldiers in Kiryat Shmona, and finally on the Yoav barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Katz says Israel's destruction of bridges across Litani River ‘clear message’ to Lebanese authorities

Katz said that Israel's destruction of bridges across Litani River should be seen as a "clear message" to the Lebanese authorities

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed responsibility for strikes carried out earlier in the day by the army on “two additional bridges over the Litani River in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah offers condolences to Mojtaba Khamenei following death of Ali Larijani

Hezbollah has paid tribute and offered its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, killed in an Israeli strike on Tuesday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, which today faces barbaric American-Zionist aggression and is the target of international conspiracies, is sacrificing its martyrs and senior leaders in this sacred struggle … Through its historic resistance and perseverance, it is thwarting all the colonial, expansionist and fragmentation plans and projects that the American-Zionist enemy is attempting to impose in order to enslave the peoples of the region, plunder their wealth and completely dominate their present and their future,” Hezbollah added.

“We in Hezbollah condemn this cowardly assassination and the continuation of the criminal U.S.-Israeli aggression, and affirm that the killing of leaders will not break the will of the Islamic Republic, nor the determination of its leadership, its people and its fighters. The Islamic Republic will remain the pillar of the resistance against American hegemony and Zionist expansion, whatever the sacrifices,” the party concluded.

Riyadh announces interception of ballistic missiles

Saudi Arabia has announced that its air defenses have intercepted ballistic missiles, after AFP journalists heard loud explosions echoing over the capital, Riyadh, reports AFP.

“Air defenses are facing a ballistic threat in Riyadh,” said the Saudi Defense Ministry, whilst residents received a text alert warning of a “hostile aerial threat.”

The Civil Defense subsequently stated on X that “the danger had been averted” in the capital.

Iran: Message of condolence from Mojtaba Khamenei to Larijani

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, paid tribute in a written statement to security chief Ali Larijani, killed in an Israeli strike claimed, stating that his “murderers” would have to “pay the price,” according to the Tasnim news agency, as reported by AFP.

“Undoubtedly, the assassination of such a figure testifies to his importance and to the hatred of Islam’s enemies towards him,” Mojtaba Khamenei said in the message relayed by Tasnim on the day of Ali Larijani’s funeral in Tehran.

“Every drop of blood spilled has its price, and the criminal murderers of these martyrs will soon have to pay it,” he added, referring to the other leaders killed in the strikes.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father over a week ago, has not appeared in public since. His first message was read out a few days later on national television. According to U.S. and Israeli officials, he may have been “disfigured” or wounded in the leg in the attack that killed Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28, which triggered the current regional war.

Iranian missile strikes on Israel: Ben Gurion Airport hit ‘by debris’

Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, was hit ‘by debris’ following Iranian missile strikes on Israel, the army told AFP, without specifying the date of the incident.

According to Israeli media, private aircraft parked at the airport were damaged. The army lifted the gag order on the incident on Wednesday but did not authorize the disclosure of the date. The Israeli news website Ynet published a photo of a small private aircraft damaged in the incident.

This is the first time the army has announced that Ben Gurion, Israel’s main international airport, has been hit since the start of the war triggered by the U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

On March 5, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport as well as an airbase located in the same area.

Lebanese Army repositions itself within Shebaa, confirming it will remain in the town

The Lebanese Army has re-positioned itself in Shebaa (Hasbaya) through relocating from the Bayader–Shebaa point to the vicinity of the municipality building and to a junction called Shaab al-Qalb al-Wustani.

According to our correspondent, this step confirms that the Lebanese Army will remain stationed within Shebaa, following the news of a potential withdrawal of the army from the town.

Health Ministry: Latest toll from war on Lebanon

According to the latest figures from the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israel has killed 968 and wounded 2,432 since the start of its war on Lebanon on March 2.

Latest developments in southern Lebanon from our correspondent

Israel carried out an explosion on the eastern outskirts of Khiam (Marjyoun).

Israel targeted Khiam with airstrikes.

Israel targeted the areas around Yohmor and Arnoun, as well as Ali al-Taher Hill (Nabatiyeh), with artillery fire.

Lebanese Army barracks in Burj Rahhal (Sour) have been evacuated, according to local residents.

The bridges and crossing targeted so far in South Lebanon

• Tayr Filsey bridge on March 13
• Jidr al-Khardali bridge on March 13
• Qaaqiyat al-Jisr bridge today
• Qasmieh crossing today
• Burj Rahhal crossing today

Loud explosions heard in Riyadh

Three loud explosions were heard in Riyadh, according to AFP journalists.

Gas facility evacuated in Qatar following Iranian threats against five energy complexes in the Gulf

By issuing an evacuation order similar to those issued by Israel, Iran has threatened to target five oil and gas facilities in the Gulf, an act presented as retaliation for strikes attributed to Israel and the United States that targeted its vast South Pars/North Dome gas field yesterday.

In a statement released on Wednesday by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the Iranian authorities stated that these facilities would be struck “in the coming hours,” urging employees and residents in the vicinity of these sites to “leave the area immediately.”

The sites under threat are the SAMREF refinery and the Jubail petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia, the al-Hosn gas field in the United Arab Emirates, the Mossaied petrochemical complex (owned by the U.S. company Chevron), and the Ras Laffan refinery in Qatar.

The latter has, in fact, been evacuated as a precaution, according to a source quoted by Reuters.

Hezbollah announces four new attacks

Hezbollah announced that it had fired two volleys of rockets at groups of Israeli soldiers in the village of Shomera, in northern Israel, and at Tallet al-Owaida, in the Lebanese village of Odaisseh (Marjayoun), at 10.00 am and 5.30 pm respectively.

Hezbollah also stated that it had fired a volley of rockets at an Israeli force attempting to advance towards the village of Taybeh (Marjayoun) at 5.30 pm.

Furthermore, the party claimed to have sent suicide drones at a group of Israeli soldiers in Kiryat Shmona at 4.15 pm.

Israel claims to have killed two 'saboteurs' in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon

The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Ella Waoueia, stated in a post on X that Israeli soldiers had targeted “two armed saboteurs” from Hezbollah in the Bint Jbeil area.

Israel strikes Qaaqaiyat al-Jisr bridge

Israel has carried out an airstrike on the Qaaqiyat al-Jisr bridge, which connects the districts of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil and crosses the Litani River, according to our correspondent in the South.

The Israeli airstrike on the Qaaqaiyat al-Jisr bridge also cut the connection between the villages of Nabatieh and some villages in Marjayoun district.

Iran has not resumed its nuclear enrichment activities since the war in June 2025, according to US intelligence

Iran has not attempted to resume its nuclear enrichment activities following the U.S.-Israeli attack in June 2025, stated U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard in a written statement to the U.S. Senate, contradicting Donald Trump’s remarks on the war aims against Tehran.

“Following Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’ [the name of the U.S. operation against Iran in June 2025], Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was destroyed. Since then, no effort has been made to attempt to restore their enrichment capabilities,” Gabbard stated in the text submitted on Wednesday to a parliamentary committee.

“The entrances to the underground facilities that were bombed have been covered with earth and sealed with cement,” she added. She stressed, however, that Iran and its allied militias in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, remain capable of “carrying out attacks against U.S. interests” and those of their partners in the region.

According to her, the Iranian regime appeared to remain intact, although it had been “significantly weakened” by the Israeli-U.S. airstrikes launched on Feb. 28. She also warned that, should the regime in Tehran survive, it could resume its efforts over several years to rebuild its ballistic missile program and its stockpiles of drones.

Latest developments in southern Lebanon from our correspondent

Israel has carried out airstrikes on a building near Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Toul (Nabatieh), as well as on the town of Khiam and the villages of Qantara, Blat (Marjayoun), and Aynata (Bint Jbeil).

Two Israeli airstrikes also targeted Debbine (Marjayoun).

The outskirts of Mayfadoun (Nabatieh) have been subjected to Israeli artillery shelling.

Iran confirms death of its intelligence minister, killed in overnight Israeli strike

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Wednesday the killing of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, whom Israel had earlier announced it had killed in an overnight strike in Tehran.

“The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues Esmail Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nassirzadeh, as well as some members of their families and their teams, has plunged us into mourning,” he wrote on X.

Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, and Nassirzadeh, Minister of Defense, have also been killed since the war began on Feb. 28.

Israeli drone crashes in southern Lebanon

Photo relayed by our correspondent in the South

An Israeli drone crashed on the main road between Marwanieh (Saida) and Msayleh (Sour).

NATO considers ways to reopen Strait of Hormuz, says Rutte

NATO allies are discussing together how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday.

“We all agree, of course, that trade must resume. And what I know is that the allies are working together and discussing how to achieve this. They are working collectively to find a solution,” Rutte told reporters while on a visit to Norway, Reuters reports

Nearly 120,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon return to Syria since early March

Nearly 120,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon have returned to their country since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah in early March, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.

Nearly 125,000 people, including around 119,000 Syrian nationals, crossed the border from Lebanon into Syria between 2 and 17 March, according to the IOM.

Lebanon had taken in more than a million Syrian refugees who had fled their country during the civil war triggered by the crackdown on a popular uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2011.

More than half a million of these refugees have returned to their country since Assad’s fall in late 2024.

Explosions heard in Tel Aviv following missile alert in central Israel

Explosions, one of which was very loud, were heard on Wednesday in Tel Aviv after the army announced it had detected Iranian missiles being fired towards central Israel, an AFP journalist reported.

Emergency services reported that there were no immediate injuries. AFP footage filmed in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, immediately after the explosions, showed a large-scale emergency response in a residential area.

The army had announced shortly before that it had “identified missiles fired from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel," adding that air defenses had been activated to intercept them.

UNIFIL warns of ‘worrying deterioration’ of situation in southern Lebanon

UNIFIL warned on Wednesday of a “worrying deterioration” observed last night in southern Lebanon, where the intensity of clashes between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops continues to escalate as Israel’s air and ground offensive against Lebanon continues.

In a statement, the U.N. force reported “intense exchanges of fire,” an “escalation of air and ground operations,” as well as an “increased presence” of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory, describing these developments as “deeply concerning.”

UNIFIL also expressed concern over the resumption of evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army and Hezbollah, “which are affecting civilians on both sides of the Blue Line,” the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.

The force, whose mandate in southern Lebanon is due to expire at the end of 2026, has reiterated its call on the parties to once again comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and to achieve a complete cessation of hostilities, which it regards as the only path to lasting stability.

The peacekeeping force also confirmed that its contingents remain deployed throughout their area of operations in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line, “continuing their missions to monitor violations, liaise between the parties and, where possible, facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians.”

Toll from Israel's war on Lebanon: 957 killed, 2,391 injured

Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine announced on Wednesday that the death toll from Israel's war on Lebanon now stands at 968, with 2,432 injured, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Israeli strikes on the Bekaa

Israel has carried out two air strikes on the village of Sohmor, followed by one on the village of Mashghara, in the Western Bekaa. It also targeted the village of Chaara (Baalbeck), according to our correspondent in the region.

Trump temporarily waives maritime shipping law to ease energy costs

President Donald Trump on Wednesday temporarily waived a century-old shipping law to help ease energy costs that have surged since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into war.

Trump's move to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver would lift a ban on foreign-flagged vessels transporting cargo between U.S. ports over this period.

The 1920 law was aimed at promoting U.S. shipbuilding, but critics argue that it hampers free trade and has raised costs for consumers.

Read more here.

Jean-Noel Barrot expected in Beirut on Thursday, a diplomatic source tells L’Orient Today

L’Orient Today has learned that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is expected in Beirut on Thursday as part of diplomatic efforts to secure a cease-fire in Lebanon.

He is scheduled to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.

South Lebanon: After issuing evacuation notices on the area, Israel strikes 2 bridges over the Litani River in Sour

Hours after warning it would target bridges crossing the Litani River, the Israeli army struck two of them — one near the town of Burj Rahal and the other, the Kenayat bridge, in the Qasmiyeh area, both in the Sour district.

These are not bridges on major roads linking regions, but “secondary” crossings located within villages, our correspondent in south Lebanon said.

Morcos condemns Israeli strike that killed Al-Manar journalist

Information Minister Paul Morcos also denounced on X “the martyrdom of journalist Mohammad Cherri and his wife.”

“The targeting of journalists constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and an attack on press freedom,” he stressed.

Aoun continues his efforts towards 'direct negotiations with Israel'

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun assured that he would continue his efforts to achieve “direct negotiations with Israel,” in comments to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath.

“I maintain my initiative to open direct negotiations with Israel to end the war. I am committed to obtaining internal consensus on this initiative before anything else,” he said.

Iran claims to have dismantled monarchist cells

Iranian authorities announced Wednesday that they had dismantled more than a hundred suspected cells of monarchist networks plotting against the Islamic Republic, on the 19th day of the war between Tehran, Washington and Israel.

“The forces of the Intelligence Ministry identified and dismantled 111 monarchist cells in 26 provinces before they could take action,” the Ministry wrote in a statement published by the Fars news agency, without specifying the number of people involved.

The authorities also arrested 21 people accused of having collaborated with the Iran International television channel, based in London and classified as a terrorist organization by Tehran since 2022.

Russia condemns assassination of Iranian security chief Ali Larijani

Russia on Wednesday condemned the death of Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani, one of the country's top leaders, killed in a strike claimed by Israel.

“We strongly condemn the actions aimed at harming health and even more, at killing the leaders of independent and sovereign Iran,” declared Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during his daily press briefing in which AFP participated.

President of Order of Journalists condemns assassination of Al-Manar journalist

The president of the Order of Journalists, Joseph Qosseifi, condemned in a statement “the assassination” of the journalist from the Al-Manar channel, Mohammad Cherri, and his wife in their home.

“This crime is added to a series of crimes committed by Israel against Lebanese journalists and media figures, which have cost the lives of or injured many of them,” he lamented.

1 killed, 2 injured in Kfar Tibnit, crossing point targeted near Litani River

An Israeli airstrike killed one person and injured two others in Haret Fawqa in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), according to our correspondent.

The Israeli army also struck a bridge intended to cross the Litani River near the town of Burj Rahal (Sour), close to offices belonging to the Litani River Authority, southeast of the Qassimieh Bridge.

'We have expanded our devastating response' against Hezbollah, says Israeli army

In an address to Hezbollah, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, stated that Israel had “expanded its devastating response” following the party’s escalation Tuesday evening, which launched a new type of operation dubbed “Khaybar 1.”

“To the Hezbollah terrorists — leadership, fighters and mercenaries: once again, you have widened the circle of attacks; therefore, we have expanded our devastating response, which spares nothing — an eye for an eye, and more,” he said.

“Our target bank is expanding, and our eyes are following your every move. Those who play with fire get burned — and what is coming will be harder and more severe,” the spokesperson further threatened.

Salameh: We are striving to exert pressure on Israel through diplomatic channels

Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh told Qatari news channel Al Jazeera that Lebanon continues to work toward a diplomatic solution to end the ongoing war.

“We are striving to exert pressure on Israel through diplomatic channels,” the minister stated. “Negotiations with Israel are at a standstill for numerous reasons. Israel refuses a cease-fire, and an internal deadlock persists regarding the formation of the negotiating delegation,” he added

“International actors, including France, have welcomed our proposal to begin negotiations with Israel. The principle of direct negotiations with Israel is not rejected, but the debate in Lebanon centers on the conditions of these negotiations. There is no direct contact with Hezbollah regarding this process,” Salameh emphasized.

“Some countries have adopted the Lebanese initiative, developed it, and worked towards it, and France has shown a definite interest. The United States has expressed interest in this initiative, but the Europeans are more interested in its development,” he added.

The minister also deplored the fact that “Israel is systematically extending its control over new areas of southern Lebanon.” “Israel’s objective, through this systematic expansion in the south, is to establish a buffer zone. Israel is carrying out population displacements and land confiscations to prevent the inhabitants of the south from returning home,” he added.

Targeted strike in Saida: Israeli army says killed 'senior Hamas financier'

The Israeli army and the Shin Bet, the country's internal security agency, announced they killed Wissam Mustafa Hussein Taha, a "senior Hamas financier," in a targeted strike in Saida, according to Israeli media reports.

He was working to "raise hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide for Hamas" and operated under the authority of Essam Khashan, the head of Hamas's "financing apparatus," whose offices were struck in Saida on March 6, according to the Shin Bet.

According to preliminary information from our correspondent, the targeted strike targeted a Palestinian whose identity card was found at the scene.

Hajjar condemns Israeli strike on Saida that killed 1 Civil Defense member, injured another

Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar condemned the "continued Israeli attacks against Lebanon," which this morning killed one Civil Defense member in Saida and wounded another.

"These attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, which clearly stipulates the need to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers and Civil Defense personnel, who dedicate their efforts to saving lives and assisting civilians in the most difficult conditions," he stated.

Update on south Lebanon

• An Israeli strike targeted Deir Kifa (Sour) and Sharqieh.

• The strike on Harouf killed one person, Ali Abdelkarim Atwi, according to our correspondent.

• Since midnight, the Israeli army has targeted 35 villages in southern Lebanon, reports our correspondent.

Update on south Lebanon, according to our correspondent

Israeli military aircraft carried out a strike on the village of Harouf (Nabatieh district), killing one person identified as Ali Abdel Karim Atwi.

Two members of Hezbollah's medical committee were killed and several others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil district).

Israeli military aircraft also targeted the village of Jermaq (Jezzine district).

The Israeli airstrike that targeted Zifta (Nabatieh) hit a house that had been targeted in the previous war, but caused no casualties.

Israel threatens to strike bridges crossing Litani River in south Lebanon

The Israeli army announced, via a statement from its Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, its intention to "attack crossing points on the Litani River starting at noon" this Wednesday.

The army justifies this new attack on civilian infrastructure by stating its intention to "prevent the transfer of reinforcements and combat equipment" from Hezbollah to the border region, where ground fighting has been taking place since the beginning of the Israeli offensive.

The spokesperson reiterated his call for all residents of southern Lebanon to flee "to the area north of the Zahrani River," which flows even further north of the Litani, and to "refrain from any movement southward."

The Israeli army has already attacked several bridges in southern Lebanon since the start of the escalation, including the Tayr Felsay (Sour) bridge on March 13 and the Qantara bridge in the strategic Wadi Hujeir valley.

The Israeli army stated at the time that the destruction of these bridges constituted a "message to the Lebanese state" and that it would target "any infrastructure used by Hezbollah inside Lebanon to target Israel."

Update on south Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes targeted Jmaijmeh, Froun (Bint Jbeil), Sowaneh (Marjayoun), and Wadi Zibqine (Sour), according to our correspondent.

Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on Zifta (Nabatieh). The strike was heard as far away as Saida.

In addition, Israeli warplanes flew over Saida and Nabatieh at low altitude.

Israeli artillery and phosphorus rocket fire targeted the northern and western neighborhoods of Khiam (Marjayoun). Meanwhile, Israeli forces are attempting to advance toward the central and northern parts of Khiam, while also shelling the high ground in Qlayleh, Marjeyoun, Abl al-Saqi, and the vicinity of Debbine (Marjayoun).

Ali Taher Hill (Nabatieh) was also targeted by Israeli artillery fire.

Israeli army says it targeted a Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army, through its Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee, announced that "its 91st Brigade detected activity by a Hezbollah terrorist cell unloading weapons and military equipment from a truck, including RPG rockets intended to target the Israeli army."

He added on his X account: "Shortly afterward, the air force attacked the members of this cell before they could carry out their terrorist plan."

Adraee also specified that forces from the 401st Brigade killed two Hezbollah members "after they targeted Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, without causing any casualties or damage."

Katz threatens 'significant surprises today' that will 'intensify war against Iran, Hezbollah'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened “significant surprises” that will “intensify the war against Iran and Hezbollah,” the day after a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet, Israeli media reported, citing his office.

“Today, significant surprises are expected on all fronts, which will intensify the war we are waging against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he said. He also indicated that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized “the Israeli army to eliminate any senior Iranian official… without requiring further approval” from the political sphere. He stated that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib had been killed in an Israeli airstrike carried out overnight in Tehran.

Al-Manar presenter and his wife killed in Israeli strike on Zoqaq al-Blat

Al-Manar, the Hezbollah-affiliated television channel, announced Wednesday that Mohammad Cherri, its director of political programming, and his wife were killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit the Zoqaq al-Blat neighborhood in central Beirut earlier this morning.

“This treacherous Israeli strike targeted civilians at home in their apartments, leading to the martyrdom of Mohammad Cherri and his wife. Their children and grandchildren, including women and children, were also injured and later taken to hospitals,” the channel said in a statement.

According to a provisional figures from the Ministry of Health, at least 12 people were killed and 27 others wounded in the early-morning Israeli airstrikes against the Basta and Zoqaq al-Blat neighborhoods in Beirut.

Civil Defense pays tribute to member killed in Israeli strike on Saida

The Lebanese Civil Defense paid tribute to Fahmi Mahieddine al-Chami, a member of its Southern regional center, who was killed Wednesday morning in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in the city of Saida, south Lebanon. Another Civil Defense team member was also injured in the attack, the organization said in a statement.

Al-Chami, 51, had been officially appointed a full member of the General Directorate of Civil Defense in 2023.

According to our correspondent in south Lebanon, the strike in Saida reportedly targeted a Palestinian individual whose ID was found at the scene. Al-Chami had been at a nearby Civil Defense center at the time of the strike.

Latest developments in south Lebanon:

The villages of Marjayoun and Ibl al-Saqi came under Israeli artillery fire.

An Israeli airstrike targeted a center of the Islamic Health Committee, affiliated with Hezbollah, in the village of Bir al-Salasel (Bint Jbeil).

Israeli strikes were also reported in the villages of Harouf (Nabatieh) and Kafra (Bint Jbeil).

An Israeli drone carried out a raid on the village of Zibdin (Nabatieh).

Rescue teams are still attempting to extract victims following airstrikes on the Deir Zahrani square (Nabatieh) earlier this morning.

South Lebanon: At least 2 killed in Christian village of Qlaya as Israeli artillery strikes hit again

At least two people were killed and another injured Wednesday morning when Israeli artillery struck the Christian village of Qlaya in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon.

Hanna Daher, the village mayor, confirmed to our correspondent that shells hit an apartment in a residential building housing a family of three, including a child. Two family members, whose identities have not yet been released, were killed, while the third was taken in by Red Cross rescuers on site.

Qlaya, a Christian village near the Litani Rive, just four kilometers from the Blue Line, had already mourned the death of priest Pierre Raï on March 9, also killed by Israeli artillery. The repeated strikes reflect an ongoing Israeli effort to depopulate villages in the region.

Security meeting in Baabda: Aoun urges Lebanese unity and more shelters for the displaced

During a security meeting in Baabda attended by the country’s top military and security officials, President Joseph Aoun stressed the importance of “Lebanese unity” and the “rejection of sectarian incitement,” according to the Lebanese presidency on X.

“The political discourse in the country must be a national one, emphasizing the unity of the Lebanese people, solidarity, and the rejection of division, sectarian incitement, and discord,” Aoun said. He also called for this spirit to be reflected “in the media and on social networks, given the important role they play in these circumstances” amid the ongoing military escalation between Hezbollah and Israel.

Aoun further highlighted the need to “establish more shelters for people forcibly displaced from their towns and villages,” numbering over one million, and to “monitor prices and fight speculation.”

Security officials presented the “available reports” on Israeli attacks in Lebanon, detailing “their consequences in terms of deaths, injuries, population displacement, and property destruction.”

Israel says it carried out air, sea strikes on Lebanon Tuesday night

The Israeli army stated, in a press release published on X by its Arabic language spokesperson, that it conducted a series of air and sea strikes last night against Hezbollah infrastructure. The statement is accompanied by a video showing targets attacked by the Israeli army.

"Yesterday [Tuesday], the Hezbollah terrorist organization fired dozens of rockets toward Israeli territory. The army had detected prior preparations by Hezbollah operatives, which prompted the Northern Command to launch operations to counter and disrupt these operations. As part of these efforts, several launch sites, weapons depots, and operational headquarters were targeted," said Avichay Adraee, the Arabic language spokesperson for the Israeli army.

“From the outset of the rocket fire, and during the rapid detection and targeting operations, the launch sites and cells were hit, preventing Hezbollah from launching a major barrage of rockets toward Israel,” the statement continued.

The Israeli army also explained that it “shortly thereafter began evacuating the residents of Sour as a security measure and attacked Hezbollah weapons depots and headquarters located in civilian areas.”

“Furthermore, during the night, other sites belonging to the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, considered Hezbollah’s financial arm and used to pay its members and finance terrorist attacks, were also targeted. In addition, the headquarters of the Imam Hussein Brigade in southern Lebanon was targeted by airstrikes and naval strikes, and naval forces targeted a key Hezbollah element in Beirut,” the statement continued.

Israeli strike kills 2, injures 1 in Saida

In Saida, the Israeli strike that targeted a car this morning killed two people, including a Civil Defense rescuer, and wounded one, according to the Health Ministry.

Israeli strikes on Beirut: Death toll rises to 12, with 41 injured

The death toll from Israeli strikes in the central Beirut neighborhoods of Basta and Zoqaq al-Blat has risen to at least 10, with 27 injured, according to an updated report from the Health Ministry.

The initial toll was 6 killed and 24 wounded.

2 Israeli strikes kill at least 9 people this morning in the Bekaa

The death toll from this deadly night in Lebanon continues to rise, with heavy losses reported in the Bekaa Valley, in the east of the country.

This morning, the Israeli air force carried out no fewer than nine strikes on the village of Sohmor (western Bekaa Valley), where at least three people were killed and 12 others wounded, according to a preliminary report obtained by our correspondent.

Another deadly raid struck a building on the western outskirts of Baalbeck last night around 10 p.m. The final toll stands at six killed and seven wounded, after rescue workers called off the search under the rubble.

5 al-Amana gas stations targeted in southern Lebanon: Israel undermining Hezbollah's 'revenue, mobility'

The Israeli army has acknowledged deliberately targeting al-Amana gas stations, affiliated with Hezbollah, saying it is undermining the party's "revenue and mobility," reports The Times of Israel.

Five al-Amana gas stations were targeted this morning by Israeli airstrikes. They are located in Srifa, Burj al-Shemali, Hosh, and Deir Qanoun al-Naher in the Sour district, and Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district.

Royal Jordanian announces resumption of flights to Beirut starting March 19

Royal Jordanian Airlines announced in a message sent to Lebanese airlines and travel agencies that it will resume its regular flights between Amman and Beirut starting Thursday, March 19.

Since the start of the war in Lebanon, following the one launched by Israel, with Washington's support, against Tehran, the Jordanian airline had not announced a prolonged suspension of its flights, but had been making cancellations on a daily basis.

This is the first foreign airline to formally announce the resumption of its service to Beirut since the beginning of the war. Initially, partially closed in the early days of the war, Jordanian airspace has been almost fully reopened for about two weeks.

Attack on UNIFIL in south Lebanon on March 6 originated from Israeli fire, Israeli army acknowledges

The Israeli army admitted on Wednesday that tank fire struck a United Nations position in southern Lebanon on March 6, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers, Reuters reports.

Initial findings from an internal U.N. investigation suggested that Israel was responsible for the attack, carried out by a tank that fired three shells, a Western military source told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Israeli army stated that it was responding to anti-tank missile fire from Hezbollah, which had moderately wounded two of its soldiers.

"A thorough investigation concluded in recent days has established that the shots that hit UNIFIL personnel were fired in error by Israeli army soldiers, who mistook the peacekeepers for the source of the anti-tank fire that occurred moments earlier," she told Reuters.

Israeli military says Hezbollah intended to fire at least 100 rockets last night, but launched only 40

The Israeli military stated that it had "neutralized more than half of the barrage of rockets" Hezbollah launched against northern Israel last night, and estimated that the party plans to launch attacks of a similar scale every few days.

According to military estimates cited by The Times of Israel, the party "intended to fire at least 100 rockets," but launched "about 40 short-range rockets, several missiles, and five drones." Only one of these reportedly caused damage, hitting a house in Karmiel, in northern Israel, according to the Israeli military.

In recent days, Hezbollah has reportedly fired an average of about 150 rockets per day, according to the Israeli army, which believes the group is attempting to escalate the fighting periodically with larger salvos, such as the one planned last night.

Approximately two-thirds of the daily rocket fire is targeting Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, while the remaining third is targeting Israeli territory, according to Israeli estimates.

Le Drian: Only solution to end war in Lebanon lies in negotiation

French President Emmanuel Macron's special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, stated that "the only solution to end the conflict in Lebanon lies in negotiation," according to Reuters.

"Israel has not succeeded in disarming Hezbollah, so it cannot expect the Lebanese government to do so in three days under bombardment," he said.

Israel strike on Saida reportedly targeted a Palestinian whose ID was found on the scene

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, the targeted strike in Saida reportedly targeted a Palestinian whose identity card was found at the scene.

New strikes on southern Lebanon

Israeli artillery fire targeted Zawtar Sharqieh and Arnoun (Nabatieh).

Israeli warplanes struck Deir Zahrani.

Israeli escalation in Lebanon: Aoun chairs security meeting

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun chaired a security meeting this morning, attended by, among others, Defense Minister Michel Menassa, Army Commander-in-Chief Rodolph Haykal and other security officials, the presidency reported on X.

Five al-Amana gas stations, affiliated with Hezbollah, targeted by Israeli airstrikes

Five Al-Amana gas stations, affiliated with Hezbollah, were targeted this morning by Israeli airstrikes, according to our correspondent.

These stations are located in Srifa, Burj al-Shemali, Hosh, and Deir Qanoun al-Naher in the Sour district, and Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli drone strike on car in Saida

An Israeli drone carried out a drone strike around 9:30 a.m. on a car in Saida, southern Lebanon, seriously injuring the driver and a member of the Civil Defense who was at a center near the strike site, reports our correspondent. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Update on the situation in south Lebanon

This morning, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Hoch area, near the Tawfir cooperative, as well as an al-Amana gas station, affiliated with Hezbollah, in the town of Srifa in the Sour region.

A family was rescued from the rubble after the strike that targeted Burj al-Shemali at dawn. Civil Defense teams worked to reopen several roads blocked by rubble in southern Lebanon following the Israeli strikes.

They also recovered the body of a deceased person from the rubble of a house in Yater (Bint Jbeil district).

Eleven members of the Civil Defense from the Nabatieh Regional Center (southern Lebanon) were injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building about 20 meters from the center on Tuesday evening, according to a Civil Defense statement.

"The violence of the explosion caused direct injuries among the rescue workers present, requiring their transfer to nearby hospitals," she explained, adding that "the strike also caused significant damage to the center and vehicles."

Deadly Israeli strikes on Sohmor, in western Bekaa

Israeli warplanes carried out four airstrikes this morning on Sohmor, in the western Bekaa Valley, according to our correspondent. Further strikes targeted the town, causing casualties and injuries.

Another strike targeted the outskirts of Yohmor, also in the Bekaa Valley.

Shopkeeper in Ras al-Nabeh testimony

“My son woke me up. He told me not to be afraid if I heard a strike and that the Israeli army had called for the evacuation of a building in Bachoura. I went back to sleep afterward,” a shopkeeper in Ras al-Nabeh told our reporter on the ground, Lyana Alameddine.

“This is the first time Israel has struck a building twice. Their evacuation order shocked me; it’s a brand-new residential building,” she noted.

She added, “We’re on edge, but what can we do? Luckily, we’re still sleeping at home for now.”

Israeli army renews evacuation order for area south of Zahrani River

The Israeli army has once again ordered residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate the entire area south of the Zahrani River.

"The strikes are continuing, and the army is conducting large-scale operations in the region. For your safety, we urge you once again to evacuate your homes and head immediately to the north of the river," wrote Avichay Adraee, the army's Arabic language spokesperson, on X.

Bashoura resident's testimony to our reporter on the ground

Hussein Kheireddine, originally from Baalbeck, recently moved to Bashoura after the Israeli army ordered residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate.

"They struck this building three times. We were afraid of this building because the Israeli army had called for its evacuation several times. There are civilians living around it," says Kheireddine.

"There's nothing in this building, only civilians. People don't understand these strikes. I can't go anywhere now. We've left our homes three times. There's no safe place left," the man in his 60s says.

Israeli strikes on Bashoura: Our journalists are on the scene

A building was destroyed in Bashoura, in the heart of Beirut, following an Israeli airstrike at dawn on March 18, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient-Le Jour)

Bulldozers are clearing the rubble of the building that was destroyed this morning in Bashoura, in the heart of Beirut. The area has been cordoned off by police, according to our reporter on the scene, Lyana Alameddine.

On the street leading to Martyrs' Square, workers are sweeping up the debris of glass and stone. The metal shutters were blown off by the blast.

Photo: After Israeli strike on Zoqaq al-Blat

(Credit: Mohammed Yassine/ L'Orient le Jour)

New Israeli strike hits Zoqaq al-Blat neighborhood in Beirut

Photo sent by a resident to L'Orient Today

A new Israeli strike targeted a building in the Zoqaq al-Blat neighborhood in Beirut. Broadcast footage shows several apartments engulfed in flames. Unlike previous attacks, Israeli did not issue an evacuation notice before the strike.

Israeli advance and Hezbollah counterattacks in southern Lebanon

According to our correspondent, Israeli forces attempted to advance with vehicles near Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil district, under cover of artillery and heavy fire targeting Bint Jbeil city and Ainata.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah reported targeting multiple gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the south:

• 12:10 a.m.: Rockets fired at an Israeli troop concentration near al-Khanouq, close to Aitaroun.
• 12:30 a.m.: Rockets struck Israeli forces near Odaisseh.
• 2:00 a.m.: Rockets fired on the al-Khazzan hill, also near Odaisseh.

Nabatieh district heavily targeted overnight

From around 10:30 p.m., the Israeli army intensified its strikes across southern Lebanon, with a particular focus on the Nabatieh district.

• Nabatieh district: Deir Zahrani, Toul, the vicinity of a Civil Defense center and the Maslakh neighborhood in Nabatieh city, the outskirts of Roumin, Meifdoun — where a municipal council member was killed — and Jibsheet, where four Syrians were killed.
• Sour district: Jwayya.
• Saida district: Qanarit.

Sour and a building in Aaqbiyeh threatened, then targeted

Early in the evening, after Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem addressed his fighters, the group launched dozens of rockets toward Israel as part of a new wave of operations dubbed “Khaybar 1.”

The Israeli army responded with increasingly intense strikes on southern Lebanon and warned it would target Sour — the region’s second-largest city — as well as surrounding neighborhoods and Palestinian camps. Significant population movements were reported overnight from the city and nearby camps, particularly Rashidieh, according to our correspondent.

Strikes later hit several areas, including al-Haoush (behind the Lebanese-Italian hospital), the seafront near the city’s northern entrance, the Buss area near al-Qaem mosque (targeting an aluminum warehouse), and the town of Burj al-Shemali.

Following earlier warnings, the Israeli army also struck a building in Aaqbiyeh, opposite a gas station. The attack caused extensive damage to a commercial center, clinics, a pharmaceutical warehouse and nearby shops, our correspondent reported.

Israel issued a threat and then bombed a building in Bashoura, central Beirut

The Israeli army struck a multi-storey building in Bashoura at around 5:30 a.m., just a few hundred meters from the Grand Serail and Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut, after issuing an evacuation warning at 4 a.m.

The building, which had previously been targeted on March 12, entirely collapsed following the strike.

6 killed in Israeli strikes on Zoqaq al-Blat and Basta

On Tuesday night into Wednesday, Israel targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, and carried out several air strikes on central neighborhoods, targeting apartments in Zoqaq al-Blat and Basta.

According to the Health Ministry's latest toll, the attacks killed six people and wounded 24.

Israeli media have reported a targeted assassination in Beirut but no specific target has yet been confirmed.

Welcome to our live coverage of the war in the Middle East, now entering its fifteenth day.

We’ll be following developments in Lebanon after a particularly violent night of Israeli strikes on Beirut, while also bringing you updates from across the region following the reported killing of Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani.

➡️ Catch up on yesterday's live coverage here.