Ghalibaf says Iran ready for all scenarios; Trump expected to meet his national security team to discuss options against Iran | LIVE

Residents of Nahariya reportedly warned that explosions could be heard following Israeli operations in southern Lebanon

Residents of Nahariya, in northern Israel, were warned that explosions could be heard during the night and early morning due to an Israeli army operation in southern Lebanon, according to Israel’s Channel 12 on its website.

Srifa municipality condemns Israeli strike on its dispensary

The municipality of Srifa condemned “in the strongest terms the brutal aggression that targeted the town’s clinic, supported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, and which led to the death and injury of several civilian rescuers while they were carrying out their humanitarian and national duty,” according to a statement relayed by our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

The municipality added that the killed rescuer was named Ali Jaafar Najdi and worked for the “Youth of Srifa” association, praising his qualities, commitment, and sense of sacrifice “in times of peace as in times of war.”

“With pride and honor, the municipality of Sarafand mourns its martyr,” it added, saying that Israeli attacks “will not deter” its residents.

Ghassan Salameh says current cease-fire does not satisfy official Lebanon

In an interview with the Al-Mayadeen channel, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh said the official Lebanese position is to move from the current situation toward a real cease-fire.

“We are not satisfied with the current cease-fire as it is applied, because it represents less than half of a cease-fire,” the minister said, ahead of the first direct government-level negotiations in Washington between Beirut and Tel Aviv, under U.S. sponsorship.

He added that the aim of these negotiations is to reach “an end to the state of hostilities,” stressing that a security agreement or what is referred to as a “peace agreement” is not on the agenda.

The minister also said during the interview that “Israel wants to assert its security needs as it perceives them, and considers that these needs are met by deterring resistance in Lebanon, as well as by obtaining full air control over Lebanese airspace and territorial waters.”

'We are prepared for all scenarios,' says Iranian parliament speaker

Influential Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that “Iran is prepared for all scenarios,” as U.S. President Donald Trump says the cease-fire between the two countries is hanging by a thread.

“Our armed forces are ready to deliver a well-deserved response to any aggression; a wrong strategy and wrong decisions will always lead to wrong outcomes — the whole world has already understood that. We are prepared for all scenarios; they will be surprised,” he wrote.

New Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon

Rescuers from the Islamic Health Committee, affiliated with Hezbollah, evacuated an injured person from one of the earlier strikes on Nabatieh Fawqa this evening, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Israeli artillery also shelled Majdal Selm (Sour district) and Touline (Marjayoun district).

An airstrike also targeted the town of Jwayya (Sour district), but the missile did not explode.

Two additional strikes hit Zibqine (Sour district), while a third targeted Yater (Bint Jbeil district).

Continued Israeli strikes in the districts of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil

Israeli fighter jets carried out two strikes on Nabatieh Fawqa and one strike on Mayfadoun, in the Nabatieh district.

Two additional strikes were also reported in Kafra and Haris (Bint Jbeil district).

Avichay Adraee mocks Hezbollah evacuation orders addressed to residents in Israel

In a video posted on X, the spokesperson for the Israeli army mocked the evacuation orders that Hezbollah allegedly sent to residents in northern Israel.

“Between the ‘original’ and the imitation … there is a world of difference, like day and night! It’s laughable to see Hezbollah’s militia trying to play the role of a defense army with its caricatured evacuation warnings directed at our citizens … There is a huge gap between the real brand and a cheap AliExpress knock-off … you get the idea!” he said in a cynical tirade.

He also claimed that Israeli army evacuation orders are issued “for the sake of Lebanese civilians whose land has been covered in rockets by Hezbollah.”

The video was published as residents of Kiryat Shmona reported to Israeli media that they had received calls broadcasting recorded Hezbollah messages telling them to flee.

➡️ For more context on Israeli evacuation orders in Lebanon, you can read Enzo Quenescourt and Gabriel Blondel's analysis here.

Hezbollah announces new attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon

In its 18th and 19th statements of the day, Hezbollah said it attacked an Israeli artillery position in Odaisseh (Marjayoun district) at 6:00 p.m. using suicide drones.

It also said it struck Israeli soldiers and vehicles at 6:25 p.m. near two bulldozers targeted on the Bayyada–Naqoura road (Sour district), using artillery fire.

Israeli strike on Doueir: Missile fails to detonate

The Israeli air force carried out a strike on the town of Doueir (Nabatieh district), but the missile fired at the area did not explode, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

New Hezbollah attacks on Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon using suicide drones

Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon at 5:05 p.m. in Naqoura (Sour district) with a salvo of suicide drones, and at 2:30 p.m. near the Deir Siryane river (Marjayoun district) with two suicide drones.

A third attack also targeted Israeli troops at 5:20 p.m. in Bayyada (Sour district), marking the second time today the area was struck with a salvo of suicide drones.

Trump to meet security team on Iran options, leans toward military pressure, Axios reports

Donald Trump is expected to meet his national security team on Monday to discuss next steps in the war with Iran, including the possibility of resuming military operations after the failure of negotiations on Sunday, according to three U.S. officials cited by Axios.

Two U.S. officials said Trump is currently leaning toward some form of military action aimed at increasing pressure on Iran’s leadership and securing concessions on its nuclear program. “He will tune them up a bit,” one of them said.

“I think we all know where this is going,” a second official added.

Hezbollah targets Israeli soldiers and vehicles in Bayyada

Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli D9 military bulldozer on the Bayyada–Naqoura road (Sour district) using a suicide drone, reporting a confirmed hit. It added that an Israeli force later intervened to recover the bulldozer, before its fighters struck it with a barrage of rockets.

The group also said it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Bayyada using suicide drones.

Israeli strikes hit Zibqine and Doueir in southern Lebanon, at least 2 killed

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon:

Two Israeli strikes targeted Zibqine (Sour district).
A separate strike hit a car in Doueir (Nabatieh district), killing two people.

Hezbollah targets Israeli vehicles in Bayyada and Tayr Harfa

Hezbollah said it targeted two Israeli engineering vehicles, one east of Bayyada and another in Tayr Harfa, using suicide drones.

The group also stated that it hit an Israeli army Hummer vehicle in Tayr Harfa with another drone of the same type.

Srifa medical center targeted by Israel is affiliated with the Health Ministry and used by volunteers

The medical center struck earlier by Israel is affiliated with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and overseen by the municipality of Srifa (Sour district), our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.

It was used by young volunteers from the town who respond to emergencies and carry out rescue operations during attacks or injuries, and who had received authorization from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to operate.

The Israeli airstrike killed one volunteer rescuer and wounded another, according to an updated toll. A total of five people were injured in the attack.

Trump promises 'complete victory' over Iran

Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would emerge completely victorious from the war against Iran, amid an ongoing deadlock between Tehran and Washington over a possible settlement to the conflict.

“We will have a complete victory. We have already, in theory, had a complete victory from a military standpoint,” the U.S. president said when speaking to the press at the White House.

Photo of an Israeli strike on a village in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon

Credit: Mohammed Yassin / L’Orient-Le Jour

The Israeli strike that hit Zawtar Gharbiyeh (Nabatieh district).

Israeli strikes continue in the districts of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil

An Israeli strike hit Zawtar Gharbiyeh as well as an area between Adsheet and Qseibeh (all located in the Nabatieh district).

Another Israeli strike targeted Haris (Bint Jbeil district).

Hezbollah targets Israeli soldiers and vehicles in Tayr Harfa

Hezbollah said it targeted a gathering of Israeli army vehicles and soldiers in the town of Tayr Harfa using an attack drone.

“A direct hit was recorded, and flames were seen rising from one of the fuel trucks at the site,” the group said.

One killed and 5 injured in attack on medical center in Srifa, southern Lebanon

One person was killed and five others injured following an Israeli strike on the medical center in Srifa (Sour district), our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.

He added that the center belongs to the locality, but it is not clear whether it is operated by the Lebanese Civil Defense or by rescue workers.

Trump considers reviving 'Project Freedom' with expanded scope, says Fox News

Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he is considering relaunching the short-lived “Project Freedom” program, but with a broader scope beyond simply escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the statement during a phone interview on Monday with Fox News journalist John Roberts. He said no final decision had yet been taken on restarting the project.

He had announced the initiative last week before suspending it shortly afterward amid peace talks with Tehran.

Residents of Kiryat Shmona say they received threatening phone calls from Hezbollah telling them to flee

Residents of the northern Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona, located opposite the Lebanese village of Houla, received phone calls broadcasting recorded messages attributed to Hezbollah ordering them to leave the city immediately, according to reports shared by the Israel-linked news site JFeed and by OSINT613, an X account specializing in open-source intelligence.

The recorded messages, which began circulating today, include phrases such as: “Leave the city, it is ours” and “This is a warning. Evacuate the city while you still can. The city belongs to us.”

These claims could not be independently verified.

Israeli soldier who held a lit cigarette to a statue of the Virgin Mary in Lebanon jailed

The Israeli soldier who was filmed holding a lit cigarette up to a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, will spend several weeks in prison along with another soldier who filmed the incident, the Israeli army said on Monday.

The online publication of a photograph showing the soldier in uniform, cigarette in mouth, holding a white statue of the Virgin and placing a cigarette near her mouth as if making her smoke, was widely shared on social media last week.

“Following the investigation, the soldier who committed the act was sentenced to 21 days in military prison and the soldier who filmed the incident received 14 days,” the army said in a statement.

Israeli warplanes bomb southern Lebanon and western Bekaa

Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes on residential buildings in Kafra (Bint Jbeil district) and Debaal (Sour district), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Also in southern Lebanon, Israeli aviation bombed Srifa (Sour district) and Rihan (Jezzine district).

Another strike targeted Mashghara in western Bekaa.

Israeli air force bombs Kfar Kila 3 times in a row

Three consecutive airstrikes hit the locality of Kfar Kila, in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, as well as the outskirts of Jbaa toward Kfar Kila (all in the Nabatieh district), targeting three separate locations.

One strike hit an area near a water source on the edge of the town. Another targeted a sector close to a commercial complex, while a third struck the home of the head of Kfar Kila’s municipal council in the center of the village — a residence that had already been targeted previously.

Middle East war has triggered 'largest energy shock' ever, says Aramco CEO

The head of Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco warned on Tuesday that the war in the Middle East has triggered the “largest energy shock” ever seen globally, adding that markets may not return to normal conditions until 2027.

“Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopened today, it would still take months for the market to rebalance, and if its reopening were delayed by a few more weeks, a return to normal would stretch into 2027,” said CEO Amin Nasser during a call with investors.

He said the ongoing disruption has severely affected global energy flows and market stability.

European sanctions against Israeli settlers: Israel denounces an 'arbitrary' decision

Israel on Monday condemned the European Union’s agreement to sanction extremist Israeli settlers responsible for violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling the move “arbitrary” and “political.”

“Israel has supported, supports, and will continue to support the right of Jews to settle in the heart of our homeland,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote on X, arguing that the sanctions are “without any basis.”

Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians has surged in recent months in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and where the number of settlements — considered illegal under international law by the United Nations — has increased significantly in recent years.

Israeli army is reportedly preparing for an 'expansion of its ground operation' in southern Lebanon, according to Channel 12

The Israeli army is reportedly preparing to expand its invasion of southern Lebanon, pending a political decision to that effect, a military official speaking on condition of anonymity told Israel’s Channel 12.

“We are preparing for the possibility that the political echelon will give the green light to an expansion of the operation in Lebanon, and we are organizing accordingly on the ground,” the senior officer said.

According to him, part of the preparations is taking place in areas where the Israeli army is not permanently deployed, but which are located within the de facto “buffer zone” established on Lebanese territory along the border.

The channel also reported on Hezbollah’s use of fiber-optic drones, which have killed several Israeli soldiers in recent weeks and cannot be intercepted by traditional methods.

According to the channel, in this context, and in the absence of a “fully effective operational solution at this stage,” the Israeli army is focusing on gathering intelligence on the operators of these drones “in order to eliminate them.”

Southern Lebanon: Israeli air strikes on Jarjouh, Deir Zahrani and Zawtar Gharbieh

One of the Israeli strikes on Jarjouh. (Photo shared by our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)

Israeli airstrikes targeted Jarjouh (Nabatieh) twice, as well as Deir Zahrani and Zawtar Gharbieh, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah targets Israeli Merkava tank in Rshaf and Israeli drone over Sour

Hezbollah targeted an Israeli Merkava tank in the town of Rshaf (Bint Jbeil) using a guided drone.

The group also said it targeted an Israeli drone in the skies over the Sour area with a surface-to-air missile.

Health Ministry: Israeli attacks kill 2,869 and injure 8,730 in Lebanon since March 2

The latest Health Ministry casualty figures from Israel's war on Lebanon since March 2 are as follows: 2,869 people killed and 8,730 injured.

Since the last report published on Saturday, May 9, Israel has killed 51 people.

Israeli attack near Lebanese Army vehicle and ambulance in Nabatieh

An Israeli drone carried out a strike near a Lebanese Army vehicle and an ambulance belonging to the Islamic Mission Scouts Association (al-Rissala, affiliated with the Amal Movement), whilst they were accompanying a team tasked with repairing power cuts in the Rahbat neighborhood of Nabatieh, according to our correspondent. No injuries have been reported.

Israeli fighter jets carried out an air strike on Nmeirieh (Nabatieh).

An Israeli airstrike also targeted Rihan (Jezzine), whilst a drone strike targeted Kfar Dounin (Bint Jbeil).

Israeli drone strike on house in Zibdin kills 2 Bangladeshi workers and a Syrian man

An Israeli drone targeted a house in Zibdin, killing three people: two Bangladeshi workers and a Syrian man who were working in the area, according to our correspondent in the south.

This is the second Israeli attack on Zibdin today.

No casualties in Israeli airstrike on a house in Qalya

No injuries have been reported following the Israeli airstrike that targeted a house in Qalya, in the Western Bekaa, according to our local correspondent.

Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted Siddiqine, injuring one person, as well as Shaqra, Harouf, Arnoun, and Arab Slim, where a house was destroyed.

Artillery shelling targeted Kounin.

The destruction caused by an Israeli strike on Kfar Joz (Nabatieh)

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)

'Iran had anticipated the effects of the US blockade on the oil sector,' said Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad

The Iranian oil sector has faced certain difficulties since the start of the U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, but the Ministry of Petroleum has taken countermeasures, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad told state television, without specifying the nature of these measures, reports Reuters.

“During the 40 days of the war, our production did not decline and the export process proceeded satisfactorily,” said Paknejad. “Naturally, in the days following the [U.S.] blockade, we faced challenges, but measures have been taken and this process is continuing,” he said, adding that “the enemy is living in a fantasy world.”

Israeli strike on Qlaya, in the Western Bekaa

Israel has targeted Qlaya in the Western Bekaa, according to our correspondent in the region.

Israel had issued an evacuation order to residents in the village earlier this morning, as well as to the residents of Mashghara in the same region and seven other towns in southern Lebanon. Many residents had left the area in the hours following the Israeli army’s evacuation order.

Shaibani says he regards Lebanon as a 'partner,' but cites 'security concerns' over Hezbollah

The Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, described Lebanon as a “neighbor and partner” but cited “security concerns due to the presence of uncontrolled weapons in the hands of certain militias,” in reference to Hezbollah, reports the official Syrian news agency SANA. “This is why we are seeking to develop relations by moving beyond the legacy of the past left by the former regime,” the Syrian minister continued, on the sidelines of a forum between Syria and the European Union, and two days after a visit by a Lebanese ministerial delegation to Damascus.

In recent weeks, the Syrian authorities have repeatedly accused Hezbollah of attempting to carry out "hostile" operations in (and from) Syria.

Israeli helicopter stuck in southern Lebanon, another scrambled to evacuate wounded

An Israel Air Force helicopter was unable to take off from southern Lebanon due to a technical malfunction, the Israeli military said, adding that another aircraft was scrambled to evacuate wounded soldiers, the Israeli army said in a post on X.

The Israeli army claimed the helicopter was not hit by Hezbollah fire, adding that air force's technical staff fixed the malfunction, allowing the helicopter to take off safely.

The Israeli army says it has developed a new interception technology, consisting of drones equipped with nets after it came under pressure from Hezbollah's explosive drones in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has begun using attack drones loaded with explosives that are launched at Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon and explode on impact.

Israeli drone strike on van distributing food supplies in Zibdin kills 2 people

An Israeli drone strike targeting a van belonging to the municipality of Zibdin (Nabatieh) while it was transporting bread to residents killed two people.

The head of the Zibdin municipality, Ali Saad, told L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the south that “the targeted vehicle was a Rapid-type municipal car that was carrying out a relief mission for residents still staying in the town.”

He explained that the vehicle was loaded with bread and some food supplies, and that on board were Yahya Ali Kobeissi and Hussein Kobeissi — one of them a municipal collaborator and the other a friend who was helping with distribution.”

He added that when the vehicle reached the entrance of Zibdin from the direction of the public square, it was directly hit by a drone missile, immediately killing the two young men.

Saad concluded by describing the incident as a “catastrophe.”

Israeli artillery shelling, airstrikes, and machine gun-fire continue in southern Lebanon

• The road of Shukin–Kfar Djal (Nabatieh) has been closed due to the recent Israeli airstrikes on the town of Shukin.
• Israeli artillery shelling targeted the town of Kfar Tibnit and the outskirts of Nabatieh Fawqah. Shelling also targeted Mansouri and Qleileh (both located in Sour).
• An Israeli airstrike on a home in the town of Ebba earlier today killed Hajjeh Najia Kanso and her grandson Fadl Tarhini. They are from the town of Doueir (both located in Nabatieh).
• Heavy machine-gun fire is being heard in Wadi Hassan on the outskirts of Majdel Zoun (Sour), coinciding with artillery shelling of the area.

Drone strike targets municipality vehicle transporting bread to residents in Zibdin

Two drone strikes targeted a vehicle in the town of Zibdin (Nabatieh) belonging to the municipality in Zibdin while it was transporting bread to civilians, resulting in two injuries.

Residents of Mashghara and Qalaya in Bekaa forced to evacuate

Residents of Mashghara and Qalaya have begun evacuating the threatened areas in West Bekaa following evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army, reports our correspondent in Bekaa.

The Lebanese Red Cross center in Mashghara has also been evacuated as a precautionary measure following the Israeli threat.

Aoun meets with Issa ahead of Thursday and Friday’s talks in Washington, stresses 'need to put pressure on Israel'

President Joseph Aoun, met with the U.S. Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, ahead of the first negotiations at government delegation level between Beirut and Tel Aviv, under U.S. auspices, scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Washington, according to the Lebanese Presidency.

Aoun emphasized to Issa the “need to put pressure on Israel to put an end to cease-fire violations, military operations, and the destruction and demolition of homes.”

Israeli strikes continue killing people in southern Lebanon

• An Israeli strike targeted the town of Ebba (Nabatieh), with no casualties reported.
• Two people were killed in the airstrike on the town of Toul (Nabatieh), and four others were injured, three of them lightly while one remains in critical condition.
• Israel carried out airstrikes targeting the towns of Jmeijmeh (Bint Jbeil), Qlaileh (Sour), and Kfar Joz (Nabatieh).
• An Israeli interceptor missile exploded over the town of Mayfaydoun (Nabatie).

Iran says its proposal to end war with U.S. is legitimate, generous

⁠Iran's ‌proposal to end the war with ‌the United States and reopen ⁠the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was legitimate and generous, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, adding that the ‌Washington continues to ‌uphold unreasonable and one-sided demands.

"Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (U.S.) blockade and piracy and releasing Iranian assets that have been ⁠unjustly frozen in banks due to U.S. pressure," Baghaei ‌said.

"Safe ⁠passage through the ‌Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and ⁠Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous ‌and responsible offer for regional security."

Strike on Haris: Israeli army targets car, killing at least one person

The Israeli strike reported earlier on a vehicle in Haris (Bint Jbeil) killed one person and injured another. The victim is a young man named Mohammad Darwich, and the injured man is his brother Yahya. Originally from Qobeiyat in Akkar, they were killed while on their way to work, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

The village of Haris, which is regularly targeted, is not part of the so-called "buffer zone" Israel has announced on occupied Lebanese territory.

Israel continues to target Toul: rescue workers among the injured following a fourth strike

Israel has carried out four air strikes on Toul (Nabatieh) since dawn, the latest of which targeted a team of first responders from the Islamic Health Committee, reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon. At least two rescue workers were moderately injured, according to an initial assessment of the strike.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military drone targeted a van on the road to Sarbine (Bint Jbeil), injuring several people, according to our correspondent.

Salame: 'We had five areas still occupied before the war … Israel now controls 68 villages!'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam lamented that the war into which “Lebanon was dragged” by Hezbollah had resulted in “Israeli control of 68 villages, nearly half the area south of the Litani River,” and destruction “similar to that in Gaza,” during an interview on Sunday with the al-Arabiya.

“We had five areas still occupied before the war, and we were trying to secure an Israeli withdrawal with Arab and international support … Israel now controls 68 villages!” said Salam. “Israel occupies nearly half the area south of the Litani," a river located 30 km from the border, he added. He went on to point out that “towns like Bint Jbeil have been destroyed. When you see images taken by drones, you can’t tell whether they were taken in Bint Jbeil or Gaza!”

In this context, he once again defended direct negotiations with Israel, led by President Joseph Aoun “in accordance with the Constitution,” despite Hezbollah’s criticisms on this matter. “We remain committed to the need for a complete Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories according to a precise timetable and clear security arrangements,” he said. He reiterated that Lebanon was open to discussing a peace agreement, but within the broader framework of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which makes the normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel conditional upon the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Israeli strike on Toul: 2 people killed and 4 injured, according to preliminary reports

The Israeli strike on Toul (Nabatieh) at dawn killed two people and injured four, according to preliminary reports from our correspondent in the region. Of those injured, one is in a critical condition, whilst the other three have suffered minor injuries.

The Israeli army has announced the death of one of its soldiers, killed ‘in action’ on Sunday in southern Lebanon

On Sunday evening, the Israeli army announced the death of one of its soldiers, (reservist) Alexander Glovanyov, 47, who was killed “in combat near the Lebanese border” on Sunday. He was “a lead vehicle driver in the 6924th Transport Battalion,” according to the Israeli army, which did not specify where he was killed.

On Sunday evening, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several attacks, using drones and rockets, notably targeting Israeli soldiers, a Merkava tank and a “newly established Israeli army command headquarters” in Bayyada (Sour). It also claimed to have targeted “the newly established site at Blat with a swarm of explosive drones,” as well as Israeli soldiers deployed near the port of Naqoura.

Read more here.

The Israeli military reports two ‘suspicious aerial targets’ heading towards its troops in southern Lebanon

Israel has already reported twice this morning that a "suspicious aerial target" was heading towards its troops in southern Lebanon, according to posts on its X account. One was allegedly “intercepted,” whilst “the results of the interception” are currently being examined for the other, after an interceptor missile was fired at it, according to the Israeli army.

Hezbollah claims responsibility for three ‘explosive drone’ attacks on Israeli soldiers in Taybeh

Hezbollah has claimed three attacks in the area known as Baydar al-Faqan in Taybeh, a village in the eastern sector occupied by Israeli forces, stating that it had launched attack drones which caused casualties. The first two were launched at around 6 a.m., ten minutes apart, at “an Israeli force positioned inside a house.” The third, following the same modus operandi, targeted “reinforcements” sent by the Israeli army. “A helicopter was sent to evacuate the wounded, under intense cover of smoke and gunfire,” according to the group.

Israel issues evacuation threat for 9 villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley

Israel has issued a new forced displacement order for nine entire villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, some of which are being ordered to evacuate for the first time since the so-called "cease-fire," such as Mashghara (Bekaa).

The villages in question are:Rihane (Jezzine), Jarjouaa, Kfar Roummane, Nmeirieh, Arab Salim (Nabatieh), Jmaijmeh (Bint Jbeil), Mashghara (Bekaa), Qlaya (West Bekaa), and Harouf (Nabatieh).

Relentless Israeli attacks on Nabatieh district since dawn

Israel has been shelling the Nabatieh district since dawn, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon. It struck an area between Mayfadoun and Shukin, carried out three raids in Yohmor al-Shaqif, and targeted Kfar Tibnit, Shukin, Abba, Toul, and Kfar Sir.

Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike targeted Haris (Bint Jbeil), with rescue teams evacuating one injured person.

Israeli attacks on Sunday: 22 southern villages targeted with airstrikes, 15 with artillery fire

Israel targeted 22 localities in southern Lebanon on Sunday, carrying out 42 airstrikes, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Israeli drone attacks struck 11 targets across 11 villages, while 15 villages were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment. Israel also carried out a demolition operation in one locality. In response, Hezbollah carried out 24 attacks targeting Israeli military gatherings inside the occupied areas of southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent.

The strike on Jarjou (Nabatieh) in the evening killed two people, brothers Ali and Nidal Moussa; their brother Fadi was wounded. Separately, after 10:30 p.m., Israel carried out a strike on Sojod (Jezzine), causing a power outage in the village and surrounding areas, according to our correspondent.

The Health Ministry said that Israeli strikes killed 87 people since Friday. This figure may include bodies recovered following earlier strikes preceding the weekend.

UK–France meeting on mission to 'secure' the Strait of Hormuz

The defense ministers of the United Kingdom and France will co-chair a video conference on Tuesday with around 40 counterparts from countries willing to contribute to a mission aimed at “securing” the Strait of Hormuz, London announced, according to AFP.

Tehran has warned that any deployment would trigger a “decisive and immediate” response from the Iranian army, after Paris and London announced the dispatch of military vessels to position themselves in the region.

Oil prices rise after Trump rejects Iranian proposal

Oil prices rose again on Monday after Donald Trump sharply rejected Iran’s response to U.S. proposals aimed at ending the war.

Before Asian markets even opened, oil prices surged, with Brent crude rising 3.29% to $104.62 per barrel at around 02:20 GMT, as hopes faded for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which normally passes one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Iran has blocked the strait since the start of hostilities on Feb. 28, according to AFP.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped the fall of the regime in Iran would lead 'like scaffolding' to the collapse of Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister said Sunday on the U.S. channel CBS that he hoped the end of Iranian rule would bring down Iran’s proxies in Yemen (Houthis), Gaza (Hamas), and Lebanon (Hezbollah), according to AFP.

“Is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No,” he said.

“There are still proxies that — Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles that they still — want to produce. Now, we've degraded a lot of it. But all that is still there, and there's work to be done,” he added.

The war, which has killed thousands, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, “has achieved a lot, but it is not over,” he warned.

Donald Trump had a 'very nice call' with Benjamin Netanyahu before rejecting Iran’s proposal, according to Axios.

The U.S. president spoke with the Israeli prime minister about Iran’s response to the American proposal aimed at ending the war before refusing it, Axios reported.

“It was a very nice call. We have a good relationship,” he said of Netanyahu, adding that negotiations with Iran were “my situation, not everybody else's” according to the U.S. outlet.

“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called 'Representatives.' I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" the president wrote in a brief message on his Truth Social platform on Sunday evening.

Welcome to our live news blog

Good morning and welcome to our live news coverage. We will be following the situation in Lebanon, where Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue unabated.

We will also be following developments across the region, particularly in Iran, after Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to the U.S. proposal to end the war on Sunday evening.

➡️ You can catch up on Sunday's live coverage here.

➡️ Read our Morning Brief here.