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A woman holds a portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during a parade in support of the Iranian armed forces in central Tehran, March 25, 2026. (Credit: AFP)

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Trump threatens to 'unleash hell' if Iran miscalculates again; Iran PM: 'Enemies are preparing to occupy' Iranian island | LIVE

What you need to know

Israel has killed 1,094 in Lebanon since the start of the war.

Israeli soldiers are also attempting to break through into the Christian village of Dibil.

"Demanding a monopoly on weapons while Israeli aggression continues is a step toward the disappearance of Lebanon," says Naim Qassem.

Iran considers the American demands for peace negotiations to be "excessive."

The Cabinet will meet on Thursday at 3 p.m. to discuss the situation and the Israeli escalation in Lebanon.

23:47 Beirut Time

Israeli airstrike in Kounin, south Lebanon killed 3 people

The Public Health has reported that an Israeli strike killed three people and injured four others in Kounin, in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon.

Another airstrike in Touline (Marjayoun) injured seven people, according to the Ministry.

22:55 Beirut Time

Kuwait: Six people linked to Lebanese Hezbollah arrested for plotting assassinations

The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry announced this evening the arrest of six people linked to the pro-Iranian Lebanese movement Hezbollah, accused of plotting assassinations in the emirate, AFP reports.

These individuals are "linked to the banned terrorist organization Hezbollah," which was planning "assassinations against symbols and leaders of the state, and recruiting people to carry out these missions," the Ministry stated.

22:52 Beirut Time

Israel strikes Bekaa

Our correspondent reported that Israel had conducted an airstrike targeting the area around the town of Zelaya, in the western Bekaa Valley.

22:31 Beirut Time

Khalwat municipality denies existence of weapons depots in this village in Hasbaya

The municipality of Khalwat, a village in the Hasbaya district, asserted Wednesday evening in a statement that the "allegations made" by an internet user, Nadine Barakat, regarding "the existence of alleged Hezbollah weapons depots in agricultural warehouses and poultry farms in the area" were "pure defamation."

"We wish to reassure our residents and the public in the neighboring villages of Hasbaya and Rashaya," the municipality emphasized, denouncing the accusations as false and an incitement to the Israeli army to target Khalwat and its inhabitants.

The municipality called on "the competent authorities to take the necessary measures" against anyone responsible for "these slanders," urging the population not to spread rumors likely to sow discord.

"We call for cooperation with the municipality and official services to report any suspicious activity and prevent the spread of rumors and false information," the statement further emphasized.

22:18 Beirut Time

'EU stands with Lebanon': Antonio Costa to Joseph Aoun

European Council President Antonio Costa stated that the European Union “stands with Lebanon” during a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the content of which was reported in a statement from the Baabda Presidential Palace published on the Lebanese Presidency’s official account.

“The European Union stands with Lebanon and its people in the difficult circumstances they are facing, and the EU is ready to assist Lebanon in various areas to end the suffering of the Lebanese people,” the statement read.

Costa also affirmed the EU's support for the negotiation initiative launched by the Aoun to end the escalation in Lebanon, and was briefed on the latest developments regarding the Israeli escalation in various regions of the country, within the context of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since March 2, against the backdrop of the war between Tel Aviv and Washington on the side of Iran.

Aoun thanked Costa for the European Union's position and for the humanitarian and medical aid sent to support Lebanese citizens forced to flee their homes in areas affected by Israeli attacks, expressing hope for increased aid, given that the number of displaced persons has exceeded one million, the presidency added.

22:16 Beirut Time

Tehran has no plans to negotiate with Washington: Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran has no plans to negotiate with the United States and that Tehran intends to continue fighting, after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Washington had proposed a peace plan, AFP reports.

"At present, our policy is to continue the resistance," Araghchi told state television, adding, "We have no intention of negotiating — so far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is entirely based on principles." "Talking about negotiations now is an admission of defeat," he added.

Araghchi also stated that the Strait of Hormuz is "closed only to enemies." "The Strait of Hormuz, from our perspective, is not completely closed — it is closed only to enemies," he asserted. “There is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through.”

He indicated that the Iranian armed forces had already “ensured safe passage” for ships from friendly countries.

21:48 Beirut Time

Update on south Lebanon: Hezbollah breaks its record for operations in single day

In the past hour, the Israeli army carried out strikes on the town of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) and on Srifa (Sour).

Hezbollah issued seven new statements, bringing the current total to 70, marking its highest number of operations in a single day in clashes with the Israeli army since the start of the war.

The group claims to have once again launched attack drones at 6:10 p.m. against soldiers in Taybeh. It reports having destroyed more tanks in the same town, bringing the total to eight on this front, where "the clashes continue."

Hezbollah also claims to have fired rockets at Israeli army positions in Dhaira, Yarin and the recently established site of Blat, using rocket salvos. It further states that it clashed with an "Israeli army armored force" from the village of Taybeh towards the entrance of the village of Qantara.

In the sixth and seventh statements, Hezbollah finally announced that it had struck a first Israeli position in Nahariya, and another in Beit Hillel, in the north of Israel.

21:46 Beirut Time

Messages via intermediaries 'don't mean' Iran negotiating with US: Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that no discussions were underway with the United States, adding that the exchange of messages through intermediaries "does not mean negotiations with the United States."

21:19 Beirut Time

Israeli officials fear Trump will announce cease-fire with Iran this week: NYT

The Israeli government fears that U.S. President Donald Trump will announce a cease-fire with Iran as early as this week, even before finalizing agreements with Tehran on Washington's 15-point proposal to end the war, Channel 12 reports, citing senior Israeli officials. The New York Times (NYT) also reported this information, citing two unnamed Israeli officials.

In response, Israel’s political and security leadership has, over the past 24 hours, developed a plan prioritizing targets in Iran to achieve “maximum results” before a potential U.S. initiative to end the fighting, according to Channel 12.

NYT sources say that on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that every effort be made over the next 48 hours to destroy as much of Iran’s arms industry as possible, according to the two officials.

20:41 Beirut Time

Iranian parliament speaker: 'Enemies prepare to occupy” Iranian island

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Wednesday of a possible invasion of an Iranian island with the support of an unnamed regional country.

“According to intelligence reports, Iran’s enemies are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands with the support of one of the states in the region,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X. “Our forces are monitoring all enemy movements, and if they make the slightest move, all vital infrastructure of this regional state will be targeted by relentless and continuous attacks.”

20:39 Beirut Time

Trump will 'unleash hell' if Iran makes 'wrong calculation': White House

The White House threatened Wednesday to "unleash hell" if Iran makes "the wrong calculation" in the war against the United States and Israel.

"If Iran refuses to accept the current reality, if they do not understand that they have been militarily defeated and will continue to be defeated, President Trump will make sure they are hit harder than they have ever been," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing.

"President Trump is not bluffing, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not make the wrong calculation again," she added.

20:22 Beirut Time

White House insists 'discussions continue' with Iran

The White House stated that discussions with Iran are continuing to end the war, despite denials issued in recent days by Iranian leaders, AFP reports.

"Discussions are continuing, they are productive, as President [Donald Trump] stated on Monday," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a press briefing, denying that the negotiations had stalled.

20:21 Beirut Time

Update on situation in south Lebanon

The Israeli strike on the town of Harouf targeted the home of Sheikh Hussein Naji. He and his wife were killed, reports our correspondent in the South.

An airstrike targeted a chalet located on the Srira-Dallafa road, wounding a Syrian employee. This same chalet in Hasbaya was targeted during the previous war, on Oct. 25, 2025.

Cameraman Ghassan Najjar and his technician Mohammed Reda, employees of the pro-Iranian news channel Al-Mayadeen, based in Beirut, as well as journalist Wissam Qassem, of Hezbollah's Al-Manar television, were killed there.

20:20 Beirut Time

Gulf states call on Iraq to act 'immediately' to stop attacks by pro-Iranian groups launched from Iraq

Gulf states and Jordan have called on the Iraqi government to take “immediate” action to stop attacks by pro-Iranian groups launched from Iraq, AFP reports.

The joint statement was signed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

Some Iraqi armed groups belonging to the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a pro-Iranian network, claim responsibility daily for “dozens” of drone and rocket attacks against “the enemy” in Iraq and the Middle East, without naming any specific country.

20:19 Beirut Time

New Hezbollah attacks on Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon

At 5:10 p.m., Hezbollah claimed to have targeted "a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the Khiam detention center [Marjayoun district] for the fourth time, with a salvo of rockets."

At 5 p.m., near the Dibil pond, in the Christian village of Bint Jbeil, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted "a Merkava tank with a guided missile, hitting the target directly."

At 6 p.m., the group claimed to have targeted "a gathering of Israeli soldiers" "on Abu Madi Hill, in the border village of Dhaira, with a salvo of rockets."

He finally stated that he had launched an attack against an "Israeli armored force" in Taybeh, in the direction of the Mhaysebat area, at 6:50 p.m., "with guided missiles."

"The operation resulted in the destruction of four Merkava tanks and a D9 bulldozer, and clashes were ongoing at the time of this statement," the party said.

19:33 Beirut Time

Expulsion of Iranian ambassador to Lebanon: Sit-in planned for tomorrow

To protest and condemn the expulsion of Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani from Lebanon, a sit-in will be held tomorrow at 4 p.m. in front of the Iranian Embassy in Bir Hassan, Beirut.

The sit-in will take place to denounce policies supporting American-Zionist aggression against Lebanon and the region, and to reaffirm the Islamic Republic of Iran's place in the hearts of patriots. It will bring together various political parties, prominent figures and Muslim scholars.

The sit-in is titled "The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran is at home, in his country, among his people, and in the hearts of those who love him."

The ambassador has until Sunday to leave Lebanese territory following a historic decision by the Lebanese state.

19:23 Beirut Time

Situation in south Lebanon: Hezbollah claims attack; situation in Taybeh; Israeli strikes on various localities

The sounds of explosions, automatic weapons fire, and artillery shells were heard in the town of Taybeh, in the Marjayoun district.

Helicopters were seen flying over the town and its surroundings, opening heavy machine gun fire on the village and its outskirts, according to information from our correspondent in the South.

At 5:10 p.m., Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on "a force of Israeli soldiers attempting to tow destroyed vehicles west of the Taybeh project," after spotting them.

In the Sour district, an Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jwayya. Another strike targeted an area between the towns of Jwayya and Mjadel, and a warplane strike hit the area.

In the Bint Jbeil district, a raid targeted Hanine, Yater, Rashaf, Kafra and Sarbine.

In the Marjayoun district, Majdal Selm was also targeted by an Israeli strike.

19:01 Beirut Time

Iran: Israel says struck military submarine research center

The Israeli military said it struck a research and development center linked to Iran's military submarine program in Isfahan, central Iran, the previous day, AFP reports.

Israeli forces announced Wednesday that they had launched a series of airstrikes in Isfahan, without specifying the targets.

As part of these strikes, the Air Force "targeted the Underwater Research Center of the Iranian terrorist regime," the military said in a statement, asserting that it is the only site in Iran responsible for the design and development of submarines and support systems for the Iranian navy.

According to geographical information provided by the Israeli army's Persian-language account X, the strike targeted a building on the campus of Malek Ashtar Technological University, an institution under the Iranian Defense Ministry that has a research unit in underwater science and technology in Isfahan.

18:42 Beirut Time

War on Lebanon: Macron promises Aoun 'France’s full support'

“Since the beginning of the military escalation initiated by Hezbollah, the Lebanese government has taken strong and courageous measures to implement its sovereignty agenda, for the benefit of all Lebanese. At this decisive moment for the country’s future, I assured the president [Aoun] of France’s full support,” French President Emmanuel Macron declared on X.

He indicated that he had spoken by telephone on Wednesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. “We will continue to deliver humanitarian aid to displaced populations and our resolute support for the Lebanese armed forces and security forces, with the provision, in a few days, of armored personnel carriers,” he added.

“The territorial integrity of Lebanon, the protection of civilians, regardless of their religious affiliation, and the preservation of state institutions and the country’s infrastructure are essential,” Macron affirmed.

18:41 Beirut Time

Update on south Lebanon, according to our correspondent

New Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Taybeh in the Marjayoun district. Others targeted Shaqra in the Bint Jbeil district, the town of Bint Jbeil, and Khiam (Marjayoun).

For its part, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting three Merkava tanks and a D9 bulldozer west of Taybeh at 5 p.m. using guided missiles.

18:40 Beirut Time

Netanyahu: Israel expanding 'buffer zone' in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a meeting with the directors general of government ministries and local officials in northern Israel that Israel is expanding its “buffer zone” in Lebanon.

“I ask you to do everything possible to prevent residents from leaving their communities. We are expanding this security zone to remove the anti-tank threat from our communities and our territory,” he said.

He also said that “the issue of dismantling Hezbollah” was still relevant and “linked to the campaign against Iran, which is still ongoing, contrary to what is being reported in the media.”

“But we are absolutely committed to doing everything possible to fundamentally change the situation in Lebanon,” he emphasized, according to reports from AFP and Israeli media.

18:39 Beirut Time

Iran could activate the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if attacks are launched against Iranian territory

Iran could activate the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if attacks are launched against Iranian territory or islands, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing an unnamed military source, Reuters reports.

The Houthi group in Yemen, aligned with Iran, has launched attacks in the past in this region, which includes the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

18:09 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for new attacks against Israeli soldiers

At 4:20 p.m., Hezbollah said it had targeted "a gathering of soldiers and vehicles of the Israeli enemy army at the [real estate] project" in Taybeh, Marjayoun district, "for the second time, using a remotely piloted attack drone."

At 4:30 p.m., it targeted "a gathering of soldiers of the Israeli enemy army at the Marj site, for the second time, using an attack drone."

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack at 1:20 p.m. against the Krayot area, north of the occupied city of Haifa, using "a barrage of precise missiles."

17:52 Beirut Time

Israel claims to have apprehended commander of Hezbollah-linked militia

The Israeli army announced that it apprehended overnight a commander of the "Resistance Brigades," a Hezbollah-linked militia, near Israel's northern border, Haaretz reports.

"The operation was carried out following prolonged surveillance by intelligence services, and the terrorist was transferred to Israel for questioning," the Israeli army stated, without providing further details.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee added that the arrest took place during "a special nighttime mission yesterday" conducted by the Egoz unit, which operates under the command of the 210th Division.

He reported that this force intervened in the Jabal Rous area of ​​southern Lebanon, near the Lebanese-Israeli border.

17:51 Beirut Time

Missile fired from Lebanon struck neighborhood in northern Israel: Israeli police

A cluster missile fired from Lebanon earlier Wednesday struck a residential neighborhood in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, police said in a statement, according to Haaretz.

Israeli police added that officers are combing the area for unexploded ordnance, urging residents to stay away from suspicious objects and stating that the search will continue until the threat is eliminated.

17:50 Beirut Time

UN chief: Lebanon must not become another Gaza

The “Gaza model,” ravaged by the war between Israel and Hamas, “must not be replicated in Lebanon,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres argued on Wednesday, according to AFP.

“Hezbollah must stop launching attacks against Israel. And Israel must cease its military operations and strikes against Lebanon, where civilians are the most affected. The Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon,” he stated to the press.

17:50 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims attacks against Israel in south Lebanon

A Merkava tank was targeted by a drone at 1:30 p.m. at a newly established Israeli position in the border town of Markaba.

Hezbollah claims to have "spotted a force of Israeli army soldiers" in Taybeh, Marjayoun district, and targeted it for the third time with an "attack drone," causing "direct casualties," at 3:30 p.m. It claims to have targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles a fourth time at 3:35 p.m., "using artillery shells," also in Taybeh.

Near the Dibil pond, Bint Jbeil district, it claims to have targeted, at 3:30 p.m., "a gathering of Israeli army soldiers and vehicles with a swarm of attack drones, causing direct casualties."

Near Khiam prison, in the Marjayoun district, Hezbollah claims to have targeted, at 4:10 pm, "a gathering of Israeli army soldiers and vehicles for the third time, using artillery shells."

17:49 Beirut Time

Update on the situation in south Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike earlier on a house belonging to Akram Nabulsi in Baysarieh, in the Saida district, killed three people: a man, his wife, and his son, and left one person critically wounded, according to our correspondent.

They were members of the same family, the Al-Kashaqesh, originally from Hanine, in the Bint Jbeil district.

The Israeli air force also carried out several other airstrikes in the last hour, targeting Borgholieh north of Sour, Zrarieh in the Saida district, Bint Jbeil in the district of the same name, and Naqoura (Sour).

Finally, Israeli artillery shelled Majdal Zoun (Sour).

16:50 Beirut Time

Death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon rises to 1,094

In its daily report on the death toll of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Public Health Ministry recorded 1,094 killed by Israel since March 2, an increase of 22 in the last 24 hours. The number of injured has reached 3,119, an increase of 1,453.

16:30 Beirut Time

At UN, Gulf calls on Iran to cease strikes

The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned Iran’s “heinous attacks” against Gulf states in a resolution on Wednesday and demanded “full reparations” for all victims of these strikes.

The Council and its 47 member states adopted the resolution, presented by the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan, which calls on Iran to “immediately and unconditionally cease all unprovoked attacks.”

It also demands that Tehran “provide full, effective and prompt reparations to all victims of the damage and harm caused by its attacks.”

16:29 Beirut Time

Iran reviewed US proposals, deemed them excessive, says official

Iran has reviewed a U.S. proposal to end the war and considers its conditions "excessive," Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported, citing an official, according to Reuters.

The official stated that Tehran will end the war only at its discretion and if its conditions are met. The official said Tehran is demanding concrete guarantees to prevent any resumption of the war. Iran is demanding a clear position and guaranteed reparations for war damages, the official added.

He also stated that the first condition for ending the war is a cessation of attacks and assassinations. According to him, Iran's defensive operations will continue until its conditions are met. He further stated that he wants an end to the war against Iran as well as against other "resistance" groups in the region. Iran also demanded recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

16:28 Beirut Time

Israel claims it killed Hezbollah cell on the ground

"During a rapid reconnaissance and targeting operation, forces from the 401st Brigade eliminated a Hezbollah cell on the ground immediately after it fired an anti-tank missile at a unit in southern Lebanon," said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X.

"During a targeted ground operation conducted by Israeli army forces last night [Wednesday] in southern Lebanon, troops from the 401st Brigade located armed Hezbollah members. These members fired an anti-tank missile at the forces, who, in a swift counterattack, eliminated the fighters in a ground engagement," he added, specifying that one soldier sustained minor injuries.

16:13 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims attack on Israeli tanks near Dibil, southern Lebanon

Hezbollah said that at 12:00 p.m. it targeted two Israeli Merkava tanks near the water reservoir in the Christian village of Dibil (Bint Jbeil), where Israeli forces are currently attempting to advance.

The group also claimed multiple attacks this afternoon on northern Israeli towns, hitting Krerem Ben Zimra, Kiryat Shmona (twice), Misgav Am, Metoula, Dafna, Nahariya, Maalot-Tarshiha, and Metula between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Hezbollah said it also targeted the Kelaa military base in the occupied Syrian Golan.

16:13 Beirut Time

Israeli army urges evacuations in southern Lebanon

At 4:09 p.m. Beirut time, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee called on residents of the Nabi Qassem maqâm in Qasmieh, Borgholieh, Borj Rahal, Dahr Amoud, and Shabriha to evacuate the area.

16:12 Beirut Time

Israeli air force strikes Tehran sites producing weapons for regional proxies

At 3:59 p.m. Beirut time, the Israeli military said its air force struck multiple sites in Tehran “producing aerial and naval weaponry” during overnight strikes, Haaretz reported.

The army said the sites were manufacturing arms for Iran’s regional proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas. Israeli forces also targeted Iranian air defense systems in the operation.

16:02 Beirut Time

Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran sites producing aerial and naval weapons

The Israeli military said its air force targeted several sites in Tehran “producing aerial and naval weaponry” during a wave of overnight strikes, Haaretz reported.

According to the Israeli army, these facilities were manufacturing arms for Iran’s regional proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

The military also stated that Iran’s air defense systems were among the targets struck in the operation.

15:52 Beirut Time

Health Ministry: 42 paramedics killed by Israeli army

The Health Ministry condemned the killing of paramedics Ali Jaber and Wajoud Souleiman, who were unaffiliated with any partisan group, after they were struck by an Israeli army strike on their motorcycle while responding to a rescue mission in Nabatieh yesterday.

“This happened despite them wearing full paramedic uniforms and their motorcycle being clearly marked with ambulance signs and a warning light,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted that 42 paramedics have been killed by the Israeli army since the start of the war, calling it “a deliberate obstruction of rescue operations and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

It renewed its call for international humanitarian organizations to take action to end these persistent violations, which “fuel unlimited violence and threaten the remaining human values.”

15:48 Beirut Time

Adraee: Internal Hamas documents show Hezbollah enabled movement inside Lebanon

Israeli army Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that “internal Hamas documents recovered in the Gaza Strip reveal how the group obtained Hezbollah’s approval to establish positions in various areas of Lebanon, with full Hezbollah cooperation and under Iran’s guidance.”

“The documents detail a meeting between senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials, attended by the former commander of the Palestinian branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, to validate the joint project. Under these agreements, Hezbollah agreed to help Hamas store and transport equipment to its positions and provide financial support,” Adraee wrote.

He added that the documents also show that “Hamas, with Hezbollah’s agreement and support, planned the acquisition of advanced weapons, the expansion of its military branch in Lebanon, strengthening its capabilities, and improving its rocket and artillery programs.”

“These documents provide insight into Hamas and Hezbollah’s positioning inside Lebanon and confirm once again that Hezbollah, without consulting or obtaining approval from the Lebanese state, has ceded areas of Lebanese sovereignty to terrorist elements affiliated with Hamas,” he concluded.

15:33 Beirut Time

Qassem warns that demanding a weapons monopoly amid Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that calling for a monopoly on arms “to meet Israel’s demands while occupation and aggression continue constitutes a step toward Lebanon’s disappearance and the realization of the ‘Greater Israel’ dream.”

“We face two options: either capitulation and the abandonment of our land, dignity, sovereignty, and the future of our generations, or inevitable confrontation and resistance to the occupation to prevent it from achieving its goals,” he added.

“The young fighters … are determined to continue without limits and ready to sacrifice themselves without reserve,” Qassem declared.

15:29 Beirut Time

Map: Location of Dibil, where Israeli forces are advancing in southern Lebanon

Map: Location of Dibil, where Israeli forces are advancing in southern Lebanon
15:23 Beirut Time

Hezbollah chief warns against negotiations with Israel under fire

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Wednesday in a statement that any negotiations “under fire” with Israel would amount to “capitulation.”

15:09 Beirut Time

Hezbollah photojournalist killed in Israeli strike in Nabatieh

Hezbollah’s media department announced the death of its photojournalist Hussein Hammoud in southern Lebanon during an Israeli strike “targeting him” in Nabatieh on Wednesday morning.

It is not clear whether he was working at the time. “He died on the path of information and truth,” Hezbollah stated.

15:02 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims multiple attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah reported a series of attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on Wednesday:

  • A new strike targeted Israeli soldiers in the Christian village of Dibil.
  • At 12:30 p.m., a force in Taybeh was hit, with Israeli helicopters reportedly evacuating the wounded.
  • Israeli vehicles in Maroun al-Ras were struck at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with Hezbollah claiming it “hit its target.”
  • At 8:30 a.m., the group said it targeted the Israeli aerial surveillance base in Meron.


14:53 Beirut Time

Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel injure two in Carmiel

Medical teams treated two men in their 50s for minor injuries from shrapnel and shockwave effects after dozens of Hezbollah rockets struck northern Israel, Haaretz reported.

14:43 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims multiple attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah carried out several attacks on Israeli troops on Wednesday in southern Lebanon.

  • At 5:30 a.m., the group targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Qawzah for the seventh time.
  • At 9:30 a.m., it struck a force in the border village of Alma al-Shaab.
  • Earlier, at 6:00 a.m. and 8:35 a.m., Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets at Israeli troops between Beit Lif and Qawzah.
  • At 12:45 p.m., another gathering of Israeli soldiers was hit for the third time in the village of Dibil.
  • At 1:15 p.m., Hezbollah fighters attacked Israeli forces in Khiam with artillery shells.
14:42 Beirut Time

Civilian testimony from Dibil

“The Israeli army is approaching the surroundings of our village, as well as Qawzah and Aita al-Shaab. We don’t dare stick our heads out. It’s war; no one understands anything,” a resident of Dibil told our publication, as Israeli forces attempt to advance in the area.

14:26 Beirut Time

Update on southern Lebanon

Bint Jbeil district:

  • Israeli airstrikes targeted Ghandourieh and Kafra.

Nabatieh district:

  • A strike hit a house in Harouf.
  • A military raid struck areas near Jbaa.

Marjayoun district:

  • Israeli airstrikes hit Touline twice in nearly the same location.
  • Qantara was targeted three times.
  • A raid struck a neighborhood in Khiam.


14:21 Beirut Time

Israeli military advances toward Dibil in southern Lebanon

Several Israeli military vehicles and tanks are moving toward the Christian village of Dibil in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah reported that Israeli forces were gathering in the village at 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli artillery strike hit a house in Dibil, injuring two people.

14:08 Beirut Time

Saudi Arabia intercepts 2 drones over Riyadh and eastern region

Saudi Arabia intercepted two drones over Riyadh and the eastern region, the defense ministry said, Reuters reports.

13:41 Beirut Time

Update on southern Lebanon

According to our correspondent in the South:

  • An artillery strike hit a house in Debl, a Christian village in the Bint Jbeil district, injuring two people.
  • An Israeli airstrike targeted Ghandourieh in the Bint Jbeil district.
  • Another Israeli airstrike hit Touline in the Marjayoun district.


13:33 Beirut Time

Israeli airstrikes hit Iran’s submarine research center in Isfahan

Israeli air forces, using naval intelligence, carried out a series of strikes targeting Iranian military industries, including the submarine research center in Isfahan, according to the Israeli army and reported by Haaretz.

The center is Iran’s only facility responsible for designing and developing submarines and support systems for the Iranian navy, and it also produced various unmanned naval vessels.

13:32 Beirut Time

Israel expands operations in Lebanon amid Iran-US talks

As of 13:31 Beirut time, the Israeli military stated it is widening “the scope of strikes as well as its ground activity in Lebanon,” according to sources cited by Israeli radio KAN.

“We have received no instructions to stop,” the sources said, in the context of presumed talks between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the regional conflict.

13:26 Beirut Time

Aoun assures 'no return to civil war' amid rising tensions

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday in an interview with the newspaper Annahar that there will be “no civil war nor any return to its past chapters” in Lebanon, at a time when fears are rising amid calls by the state for Hezbollah’s disarmament and waves of mass displacement affecting predominantly Shiite residents from South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

“Today’s circumstances are different from those of the 1970s,” Aoun emphasized.

Lebanon’s civil war, which broke out on April 13, 1975, plunged the country into fifteen years of violence, leaving more than 150,000 people dead, 17,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced or forced into exile. The conflict began against a backdrop of tensions linked to the presence of armed Palestinian groups in Lebanon.

13:04 Beirut Time

Israeli strikes and shelling hit multiple towns in southern Lebanon

  • Israeli warplanes targeted Harouf and Kfar Tebnit (Nabatieh)
  • Israeli artillery shelling hit Naqoura (Sour) and Khiam (Marjayoun)
  • Two Israeli airstrikes targeted a house in Majdel Zoun (Sour). Ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
  • The Israeli army demolished houses in Taybeh (Marjayoun)


13:01 Beirut Time

Israeli army has deployed over 15,000 munitions in Iran, says Israel Katz

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army has deployed more than 15,000 munitions in Iran—more than four times the amount used during the June war.

In his statement, he said a situation assessment was conducted with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and several senior defense officials to approve additional strike targets in Iran and Lebanon.

13:01 Beirut Time

Turkey relays messages between Iran and the United States, says ruling party official

Turkey is “playing a role in transmitting messages” between Iran and the United States to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations, said Harun Armagan, vice president for foreign affairs of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party, speaking to Reuters.

He did not provide details about the content of the messages but said they were also being relayed to Gulf countries, which have been drawn into the wider regional war triggered by U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. The Iranian army rejected the claim by President Donald Trump that the United States was in negotiations to end the war.


12:56 Beirut Time

UN rights chief warns war risks global escalation

The United Nations' top rights official on Wednesday urged states to end the Iran conflict, describing the situation in the Middle East as extremely dangerous and unpredictable.

"This conflict has an unprecedented power to ensnare countries across borders and around the world," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva called by Gulf states.

"The only guaranteed way to prevent this is to end the conflict, and I urge all states, and particularly those with influence, to do everything in their power to achieve this," he said.

12:41 Beirut Time

Israeli army strikes Hezbollah sites in Beirut southern suburbs

The Israeli army says it targeted a Hezbollah post in the southern suburbs of Beirut overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday and claims responsibility for strikes on “al-Amana” gas stations.

The Israeli army said it carried out a strike against a “command post” of Hezbollah in southern Beirut.

It also claims responsibility for strikes on “several gas stations” owned by the company al-Amana, affiliated with Hezbollah. “These facilities constitute important economic infrastructure for its activities, by fueling trucks carrying military equipment and fighters, and generating millions of dollars in revenue to fund its operations,” said the army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X.

Three gas stations in southern Lebanon were bombed on Wednesday, according to our correspondent.

12:40 Beirut Time

Russia has received no information on US plan

Russia has received no information from Iran regarding a supposed 15-point U.S. plan and, therefore, Moscow cannot assess the reliability of media reports, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters.

12:40 Beirut Time

Pakistan delivered US proposal to Iran

Pakistan has delivered a U.S. proposal to Iran, an Iranian source told Reuters, but the location of any potential meeting between Tehran and Washington to end the war has not yet been decided.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, did not reveal the details of the proposal or specify whether it was the 15-point framework reported by the media.

The source also indicated that Turkey is helping to find ways to end the war and that “either Turkey or Pakistan is being considered as the location for such talks.”

12:39 Beirut Time

Iranian threats against the USS Lincoln

The commander of the Iranian navy said that the USS Lincoln carrier strike group is under constant Iranian surveillance and will be targeted as soon as it enters the range of missile systems, Reuters reports, citing an Iranian agency.


12:39 Beirut Time

Situation update in southern Lebanon:

  • Two Israeli raids targeted Hanieh (Sour)
  • One Israeli strike targeted Maarakeh (Sour).
  • Hezbollah claimed three new attacks against Israel. It said it targeted Israeli soldiers near the Khiam detention center at 9:15 a.m., the Hamames site south of Khiam at 10:40 a.m., and also attacked an Israeli force trying to recover a destroyed tank at Taybeh at 10:45 a.m.


12:15 Beirut Time

Adraee: Hezbollah fires 'over 120 rockets' from residential areas in Sour

The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of launching “over 120 rockets” from the edges of residential areas in Sour, where it had issued evacuation warnings the day before.

“Hezbollah has deliberately placed and reinforced its military infrastructure in the heart of Sour and surrounding villages. Since the start of its attacks, on direct orders from the Iranian regime, its operatives have fired nearly 120 rockets from the outskirts of populated areas,” wrote Avichay Adraee on X.

12:14 Beirut Time

Gulf states warn UN over Iranian attacks on infrastructure

Gulf Arab states told the U.N. Human Rights Council said on Wednesday that they face an “existential threat” from Iran, citing missile and drone strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure, Reuters reports.

Kuwait’s ambassador Naser Abdullah H. M. Alhayen said, “We are seeing an existential threat to international and regional security. This aggressive approach is undermining international law and sovereignty.”

Iran defended its actions, with ambassador Ali Bahreini saying, “We fight on behalf of all of you against an enemy that, if not restrained today, will be beyond containment tomorrow.” U.N. rights chief Volker Turk warned, “Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. If they are deliberate, such attacks may constitute war crimes.”



11:52 Beirut Time

Iran sets its own conditions for ending the war, including a halt to strikes on Hezbollah

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Iran has outlined six conditions for ending the conflict:

  • Control over the Strait of Hormuz and the collection of related fees
  • Guarantees that hostilities will not resume
  • A halt to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah
  • Full lifting of all sanctions on Iran
  • Unrestricted continuation of Iran’s ballistic missile program
  • Compensation for war damages


By contrast, the United States has proposed 15 points, including that Iran hand over all enriched uranium by a set deadline, dismantle key nuclear facilities, abandon support for proxy groups like Hezbollah, and accept limits on the quantity and range of its missiles.

11:27 Beirut Time

Escalation in Lebanon: Lebanese government to meet Thursday at 3 p.m.

Cabinet will convene Thursday at 3 p.m. to review the situation and “its political, security, and social repercussions, particularly following the escalation of Israeli attacks and the resulting wave of displacements,” the Grand Serail announced.

11:06 Beirut Time

Iran military spokesperson says US is negotiating with itself, state media

The United States is negotiating with itself, an Iranian military spokesman said according to state media on Wednesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East.

A 15-point plan aimed at putting an end to the conflict was drafted by Washington and sent to Tehran, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

"Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?" Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the unified command of Iran's armed forces, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, taunted the U.S. leadership.

"People like us can never get along with people like you."

Zolfaqari said U.S. investments and pre-war energy prices would not return as long as Washington does not accept that regional stability is guaranteed by Iranian armed forces.

10:49 Beirut Time

Iranian ambassador to Pakistan says no US-Iran talks yet, but groundwork being laid

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan told IRNA, cited by Reuters, that no discussions have taken place between the United States and Iran, “neither directly nor indirectly.”

He added, however, that “friendly” countries like Pakistan are working to lay the groundwork for dialogue between Tehran and Washington, hoping such efforts could help end the war.

Earlier reports from the New York Times and Israeli Channel 12 said the Trump administration has proposed a 15-point peace plan to Iran via Pakistan, which maintains good relations with both sides.

10:45 Beirut Time

Israeli army says it killed Hezbollah fighters targeting its troops in south Lebanon

The Israeli army said it killed Hezbollah fighters “after they fired rockets at Israeli forces” in south Lebanon, according to a post on X by the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.

“The air force identified a Hezbollah cell overnight and eliminated it after it fired rockets at Israeli forces operating in south Lebanon to expand the security zone,” the army said. “No casualties were reported among our forces,” it added.

In a video purportedly showing the Israeli strike, at least four people can be seen running before being hit by an airstrike.

10:36 Beirut Time

Spain’s Sanchez warns Netanyahu aiming to inflict Gaza-level destruction on Lebanon

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told lawmakers Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “seeking to inflict on Lebanon the same level of damage and destruction” seen in Gaza, Reuters reports.

Speaking before the lower house, Sanchez outlined his government’s opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. He also criticized Iran’s new supreme leader, calling Mojtaba Khamenei “as dictatorial and even more bloodthirsty than his father.”

Sanchez’s remarks highlight Spain’s concern over the escalating conflict in Lebanon and the broader Middle East, and warn of potential humanitarian consequences if Israel pursues actions similar to those in Gaza.

10:35 Beirut Time

UAE calls for clarity from allies amid ongoing Middle East violence

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the ongoing Middle East conflict has exposed differing levels of support from “sisterly and friendly” nations.

In a post on X, Gargash stressed that the UAE needs “clarity of positions” rather than foreign troops to confront Iran.

Gulf states, including the UAE, have faced repeated Iranian drone and missile attacks, causing dozens of deaths and economic disruption.

Translation of Gargash’s post:

“Since the start of the treacherous Iranian aggression, sister and friendly countries have continued to make contact, distinguishing positions between those who offered genuine support that is appreciated and thanked, and those who settled for statements without action. The Emirates has proven its ability to confront and endure, and it does not need equipment and troops as much as it needs clarity of positions and knowledge of who can be relied upon in times of hardship.”

10:19 Beirut Time

Israel says it struck naval missile production sites in Tehran

The Israeli military said Wednesday it carried out strikes on two naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran, operated by Iran’s Defense Ministry.

“In recent days, the Israeli Air Force, acting on military intelligence, struck two key sites involved in the production of naval cruise missiles in Tehran,” the army said, according to AFP.

The military added the facilities were used to develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles capable of hitting targets at sea and on land, saying the strikes increased damage to Iran’s military production infrastructure.

Last week, Israel also reported large-scale strikes on Iranian naval assets and facilities in the Caspian Sea region.

10:00 Beirut Time

Deadly strike targets PMF fighters in Iraq’s Anbar

An attack targeting Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) fighters in Iraq’s western Anbar province has caused casualties, according to security sources, Al Jazeera reported, noting the strike hit near an army medical center.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry said seven fighters were killed and 13 wounded in the attack, according to Reuters.

The incident follows a similar strike a day earlier that killed 15 PMF fighters, marking a sharp escalation in attacks in the area.

09:39 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims over 100 rockets fired at Israeli troops

Hezbollah said it fired more than 100 rockets between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at Israeli soldiers in northern Israel, as well as in Naqoura (Sour) and Qawzah (Bint Jbeil), where Israeli forces are advancing.

The group reported launching ten rocket barrages, claiming its targets were “hit.”

Meanwhile, heavy clashes were reported northeast of Khiam (Marjayoun), where Israeli troops have been pushing forward for the past two weeks. Automatic gunfire and explosions from shells and rockets were heard in the area.

09:25 Beirut Time

Kuwait targeted again by drones and missiles

Kuwait was again targeted Wednesday by drones and missiles, the army said, after an earlier attack set a fuel tank ablaze at the country’s international airport.
“Kuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone attacks,” the military said.

09:24 Beirut Time

Iran says ‘non-hostile’ ships can pass through Strait of Hormuz

Iran said “non-hostile” vessels can safely transit the Strait of Hormuz if they comply with security rules and do not support hostile actions, according to a statement sent to the International Maritime Organization.

09:24 Beirut Time

Israeli strikes pound south Lebanon at dawn

Israeli forces continued heavy bombardment at dawn, striking multiple towns across the districts of Bint Jbeil, Sour, Nabatieh, and Marjayoun.
A house was also blown up by Israeli troops near Shebaa.

09:23 Beirut Time

Hezbollah claims attacks on troops, tank, and helicopter

Hezbollah said it carried out five attacks on the border town of Qawzah, targeting Israeli soldiers and hitting a Merkava tank.
It also claimed it fired on a military helicopter attempting to evacuate casualties, forcing it to retreat.

The group added it targeted sites in northern Israel and struck an Israeli warplane with surface-to-air missiles — its first such claim in the war.

09:23 Beirut Time

Escalation intensifies: Dozens of towns hit

Israeli airstrikes hit 69 localities Tuesday, with drones targeting 20 and artillery shelling 30 others.
Hezbollah said it carried out 53 operations against Israeli positions.
Strikes continued overnight, including on Nabatieh and Hezbollah-linked Al-Amana gas stations.

09:22 Beirut Time

Major escalation in south Lebanon

Heavy Israeli strikes and Hezbollah operations have intensified, leaving around 10 dead, multiple injured, and widespread destruction.
Dozens of towns were hit, with repeated targeting of Al-Amana fuel stations.

09:21 Beirut Time

More strikes, casualties, and damage reported

Israeli strikes hit Khirbet Selm, Kfar Dounin, Jmayjmeh, Jeb Sheet, and others, causing fires and casualties.
A drone strike on a car wounded two people; another hit a house in Nabatieh.

09:19 Beirut Time

Strike hits Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight

An Israeli airstrike targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs after 4 a.m., hours after a new evacuation warning.
Updated tolls from earlier strikes report multiple killed and injured in Adloun and Mieh Mieh.

09:19 Beirut Time

Live coverage begins: Another deadly night in Lebanon

South Lebanon saw a major escalation overnight, with at least seven strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and a deadly Israeli infiltration in Halta.
Coverage also follows regional developments after Donald Trump spoke of “positive” talks with Iran.

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