Netanyahu says Israel will 'intensify' offensive in Lebanon to 'crush' Hezbollah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would intensify its offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah, as the United States and Iran seek to finalize the terms of an agreement aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East.
“We are not slowing down — quite the opposite, I have ordered an acceleration,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on his Telegram channel. “We will intensify the strikes, increase their force, and we will crush Hezbollah.”
Multiple Israeli strikes on Mashghara in West Bekaa
The Israeli army carried out at least five airstrikes on the town of Mashghara in West Bekaa, according to our correspondent in the region.
US official says Washington would back Israeli military escalation in Lebanon, Axios reports
A senior U.S. official has suggested that the Trump administration would support an escalation of Israeli military action in response to what it describes as Hezbollah violations of the cease-fire, according to Axios.
The official was quoted as saying: “Hezbollah has ignored repeated demands to stop firing at Israel, including a recent ultimatum. Israel is not expected to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians. This is not the Biden administration.”
Despite the cease-fire in place since April 17, Israel has continued daily strikes in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violations. Hezbollah, in turn, says it carries out daily operations against Israeli forces occupying Lebanese territory.
Al Jadeed reports temporary evacuations in Beirut’s southern suburbs amid fears of escalation
According to Al Jadeed, precautionary measures and temporary evacuations have been carried out in Beirut’s southern suburbs amid concerns over a possible Israeli escalation or military operation, following earlier threats of renewed strikes on Beirut by Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Israeli media have also reported that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir was considering such an option, while Channel 14 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz discussed the possibility of expanding operations in Lebanon and targeting buildings, including residential structures.
UNIFIL says it continues support for displaced families in south Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it is “continuing to work with local authorities and humanitarian partners to ensure aid reaches the families most in need,” stressing that “beyond its peacekeeping mandate,” it contributes “within the limits of its capabilities” to easing immediate pressures on affected communities.
Support for displaced families from south Lebanon, now living inside and outside UNIFIL’s area of operations, “continues as they face urgent daily needs,” the force said.
In Saida, UNIFIL said it helped distribute food aid to families currently living outside shelter centers. At the warehouses of the NGO Action Against Hunger – Middle East in Hilalieh, 600 dry food parcels were handed over to municipal teams from the South for distribution to displaced families.
Israeli fighter jet breaks the sound barrier over Beirut
An Israeli fighter jet broke the sound barrier over Beirut. Two sonic booms, a few seconds apart, were heard across the capital region, with varying intensity depending on the area.
Two sisters killed in Israeli strike in Doueir while receiving condolences
The two people killed in an earlier Israeli strike that targeted a house in Doueir have been identified as sisters Asriya and Sobhiya Mohammad Kanso, who were in the home receiving condolences following the death of their mother earlier in the day.
Rescue teams from the al-Rissala Scouts (affiliated with the Amal Movement) and the Lebanese Civil Defense recovered the body of Sobhiya, while efforts are still ongoing to retrieve the body of Asriya.
Hezbollah claims new attacks on Israeli soldiers in Rshaf and Blat
Hezbollah said it targeted at 16:15 a gathering of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in Rshaf, in the Bint Jbeil district, with a salvo of rockets.
The group also claimed a similar attack against Israeli soldiers in Blat, in the Marjayoun district.
Israel says it detected several Hezbollah drones over northern Israel
The Israeli army said on Monday afternoon that multiple drone infiltration alerts were triggered in northern Israel after Hezbollah launched several drones.
According to the army, drones fell in Shomera and Metula, as well as near the Lebanese border and in an area where Israeli soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon. No injuries were reported.
Israeli air force bombs threatened buildings in Maashouk
Israeli aircraft struck the two buildings in Maashouk that were threatened about an hour earlier in an evacuation order issued for the northern outskirts of Sour.
The buildings are located between the al-Massaken public school and the Imam Khamenei mosque.
Hezbollah claims attack on Israeli soldiers in Qouzah
Hezbollah has claimed a fifth attack, saying it targeted a gathering of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in Qouzah, in the Bint Jbeil district, with a salvo of rockets.
Israeli army issues evacuation order targeting buildings in Abbasieh near Sour
The Israeli army has issued a new evacuation order targeting two buildings in Abbasieh, in the Sour district.
The two buildings are located between the Sour Public School for Girls and Jabal Amel Hospital, according to local information.
Israeli army strikes building in Housh after warning; Nabatieh and Burj al-Shemali also targeted
Israeli aircraft struck a building in Housh that was threatened earlier, as well as Burj al-Shemali in the Sour district.
Four air strikes also hit the city of Nabatieh, targeting the Maqassed and Midane neighborhoods, according to local reports.
Hezbollah says it targeted Israeli soldiers in Odaisseh
Hezbollah has so far claimed four attacks carried out during the day against Israeli military positions and vehicles in southern Lebanon, saying it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at a military site south of Odaisseh in the Marjayoun district using a swarm of attack drones, as well as an Israeli artillery position in the same area.
The group also said it struck two Israeli Merkava tanks in Dibil, in the Bint Jbeil district, using attack drones.
Israeli army follows through on threats in Rashidieh camp; well and solar installation targeted
Israeli strike on the Rashidieh Palestinian camp. (Credit: Photo shared by our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah)
The Israeli army carried out strikes on the Rashidieh Palestinian camp on the outskirts of Sour, according to witnesses and our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Israeli aircraft also carried out five strikes on the village of Sultanieh in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent.
The strikes in Rashidieh reportedly targeted a water well supplying the northern part of the camp, as well as a photovoltaic installation. No immediate casualties were reported, according to preliminary information.
Israeli army issues evacuation order targeting buildings in Maashouk area near Sour
The Israeli army has issued a new evacuation order targeting two buildings in the Maashouk neighborhood on the northern outskirts of Sour, calling on residents of a building marked in red on an attached map and adjacent structures to leave immediately and move at least 300 meters away.
“We urge residents of the building marked in red on the attached map and adjacent buildings: you are located near a building used by the terrorist party Hezbollah. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and move at least 300 metres away,” Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement posted on X.
The targeted buildings are located between the Al-Massaken public school and the Imam Khamenei mosque, according to local information.
Middle East war: Senior Iranian officials in Doha for talks on diplomacy and frozen assets
A high-level Iranian delegation, including Tehran’s chief negotiator and the governor of the central bank, arrived in Qatar on Monday to discuss ongoing peace efforts and frozen Iranian assets, a source familiar with the talks told AFP.
“Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier today for discussions on ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the visit is focused on “issues related to the Strait [of Hormuz] and highly enriched uranium.” The governor of the central bank is also part of the delegation to discuss frozen Iranian funds, a matter that is reportedly included in a memorandum of understanding being negotiated as part of a potential final agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA said the visit by Iran’s chief negotiator is part of the ongoing “diplomatic process” aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.
“An Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf traveled to Doha today. This trip is part of the diplomatic process,” IRNA reported, confirming information previously provided by a source close to the discussions in Doha.
Air defenses activated on Iran’s Qeshm Island, Mehr reports
Air defense systems were activated on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Gulf for reasons that were not immediately known, according to the Iranian news agency Mehr.
Israel carries out wave of air, drone and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon
Rubble from buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in Doueir. (Credit: Mountasser Abdallah/ l'OLJ)
Israeli airstrikes targeted Nabatieh on Monday where a car was also targeted by a drone-fired missile near the Nabatieh Governmental Hospital, wounding two people.
Elsewhere in the district, strikes hit Toul, Meyfadoun, Kfour, Doueir and Sharqieh. In Sharqieh, a man identified as Ali Bassal was killed in a drone strike. His brother, Moustafa, had previously been killed in a drone strike in Shoukin, according to our correspondent.
In Mayfadoun , another drone strike targeted a vehicle, killing two people whose bodies had not yet been recovered. In Doueir, homes on the village square were struck, while a house was targeted in Harouf.
In the Sour district, one person was killed in a strike on Shehabieh. Three Lebanese Army soldiers and a civilian were wounded in an airstrike on Qana. In Wadi Jezzine, in the same district, a drone targeted a motorcyclist at an intersection, seriously wounding him.
In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli aircraft bombed Burj Qalaway, while artillery shelling targeted Safad al-Batikh, Jmaijmeh, Majdal Selm and Shaqra.
Artillery fire also struck the Al-Areed neighborhood of Debbine, in the Marjayoun district.
Israeli army orders evacuation in Burj al-Shemali Palestinian camp near Sour
The Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of buildings in the Burj al-Shemali Palestinian camp, near Sour, located close to the Mosan Center, the Sour Mall and a citrus production company.
“We urge residents of the buildings marked in red on the attached maps and of adjacent buildings: you are located near buildings used by the terrorist party Hezbollah. For your safety, you must evacuate them immediately and move at least 300 meters away,” Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in a statement posted on X.
Israeli army orders evacuation in Rashidieh Palestinian camp near Sour
The Israeli army has issued an evacuation order for the Rashidieh Palestinian camp, on the outskirts of Sour, calling on residents of a building marked in red on an attached map and nearby structures to leave immediately and move at least 300 meters away.
“We urge residents of the building marked in red on the attached map and adjacent buildings: you are located near a building used by the terrorist party Hezbollah. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away,” Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in a statement posted on X.
The targeted building is located near the Mosque al-Awda (the mosque of return) in the camp, south of Sour.
Israeli army issues evacuation order for Sour and surrounding areas
The Israeli army has ordered residents of the city of Sour to evacuate for their own safety, without specifying the exact areas to be cleared.
“In an urgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, especially those in the city of Sour and its surroundings, the Israel Defense Forces will be forced to act strongly in the coming hours against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Sour area and nearby regions,” Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.
“We call on residents whose buildings will be marked in red on known maps to be published later to immediately evacuate their homes for their own safety, as the Israel Defense Forces do not intend to harm them,” he added, warning that anyone near Hezbollah elements was putting their life at risk.
Doueir's mokhtar appeals to Lebanon’s top officials to help rescue woman trapped under rubble
The mukhtar of Doueir in the Nabatieh district, Saleh Qanso, has called on Lebanon’s three top officials to urgently intervene to help rescue a woman still trapped under the rubble of her home following an Israeli strike.
“We call on President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to intervene quickly to rescue Suzanne Hoteit, wife of Imad Hoteit, who remains under the rubble after her house was hit by an airstrike in the locality of Doueir. We ask that the necessary instructions be issued to enable her rescue. We still hold hope in God that she may be alive,” the mukhtar said in a statement relayed by our correspondent.
Israeli military chief reportedly proposed strikes on Beirut in response to Hezbollah drones
The Israeli army’s chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, said Israel should strike “buildings in Beirut” in response to Hezbollah drone attacks targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, during a security cabinet meeting on Monday, according to remarks reported by several Israeli media outlets, including KAN and The Jerusalem Post.
Earlier in May, Israeli army radio reported that Israel was developing a facility to produce a fleet of fiber-optic “suicide drones” to counter, among others, Hezbollah drones that have caused casualties among Israeli forces in recent weeks.
Two Israeli ministers call for escalation of war in Lebanon
Two far-right Israeli ministers have called for an escalation of the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, with one advocating for expanded territorial control and the other urging heavy strikes on Beirut, as efforts continue to end the wider regional conflict.
“It is time for the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to take a firm stand with Donald Trump and tell him that Israel is returning to war in Lebanon,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said. In a statement, he called for a “return to intensive warfare,” cutting electricity to Lebanon, and taking control of the Zahrani River, north of the Litani.
“For every explosive drone, ten buildings must fall in Beirut,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, according to a statement in which he also said he had approved a budget of around two billion shekels (about €600 million) to develop “technological solutions” to counter the drone threat.
Centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said it was unacceptable for Israeli soldiers and civilians to remain under fire. “Either there is a cease-fire, or we respond with disproportionate force to every attack against us,” he told journalists on Monday, according to AFP.
Victims reported in Israeli strikes on Kfar Roummane, Bazourieh and Doueir
In the Nabatieh district, two Israeli airstrikes targeted Kfar Roummane, injuring several people, according to our correspondent. The Israeli army also bombed Yohmor al-Shaqif, while Doueir was targeted by drone strikes that left two people dead.
In the Sour district, Israeli aircraft carried out repeated strikes on Qleileh (Sour) and also hit Arnoun. Drones also struck Shehabieh again, as well as Bazourieh in the Wadi Jilo valley. The latter strike killed two people, according to our correspondent.
Iranian central bank governor travels to Qatar to discuss frozen Iranian funds
Iran’s official news agency said that Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati has traveled to Qatar following a visit by a Qatari delegation to Tehran to discuss frozen funds, Reuters reported.
Hezbollah drone hits house in Metula, Haaretz reports
A Hezbollah drone struck a house in the northern Israeli town of Metula, according to the town’s mayor, as quoted by Haaretz.
No injuries were reported in the incident, the mayor added.
Trump says Iran deal will be 'meaningful' or there will be no deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that any agreement with Iran would either be a significant and meaningful deal or there would be no agreement at all, Reuters reported.
His remarks came as Iran and the United States tempered expectations of an imminent breakthrough in efforts to end what has been described as a three-month standoff. The U.S. top diplomat said Washington would either secure a good deal or deal with Iran “in a different way.”
Four killed and one wounded in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone strike earlier on Shehabieh killed one person and wounded another. A separate strike targeting a vehicle on the Khardali road, between Nabatieh and Marjayoun, killed the driver, identified as Ziad al-Ahmad, the son of a former president of the Wazzani municipal council.
In another attack on the Nabatieh–Jarmaq road, two brothers, Imad and Ziad al-Tayr, from Hasbaya, were killed.
Their deaths sparked anger and heightened tensions in the area, where residents fear a further escalation in security developments, according to information reported by our correspondent in the region.
Gaza hospitals receive 6 bodies in past 24 hours, Wafa reports
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip received six bodies over the past 24 hours, including one person who died of wounds sustained earlier, five people killed in new incidents, and eight injured, according to medical sources cited by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The same sources said the number of people killed in Israel's offensive on Gaza has risen to 72,797, with 172,821 people injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
They added that since the cease-fire of October 11, 904 people have been killed and 2,713 injured, while 777 bodies have reportedly been recovered.
Medical sources also said that a number of victims remain trapped under rubble or in the streets, as ambulance and rescue teams are still unable to reach certain areas, Wafa reported.
Road between Bazourieh and Burj al-Shemali reopened after Israeli strike damage
The main road linking Bazourieh and Burj al-Shemali, in the Sour district of southern Lebanon and previously targeted by Israeli strikes, has been reopened, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced.
The ministry said its teams carried out repair work on the damaged stretch, which had been bombed on April 4, allowing traffic to resume on the road.
In its statement, the ministry added that the work was conducted in coordination with the Lebanese Army, which provided security cover and facilitated the movement of technical teams and equipment to enable the completion of the repairs and the reopening of the road.
Trump urges Muslim leaders to join Abraham Accords after end of war with Iran, Axios reports
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday during a conference call with leaders from several Arab and other Muslim countries that if an agreement to end the war with Iran is reached, he would like their nations to sign peace agreements with Israel, according to two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the call, according to Axios.
On Saturday, Trump spoke by phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain to discuss the agreement currently under negotiation with Iran.
Trump’s remarks on Israel and the Abraham Accords during the call signal the next major step he aims to pursue in the Middle East after the war.
Trump is primarily seeking a historic peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but the current political climate in the region and upcoming Israeli elections make any breakthrough in the short term extremely difficult, Axios added.
Six residential units destroyed in Israeli strike on Arzoun
The Israeli strike carried out at dawn on Arzoun in the Sour district destroyed six residential units, while significant damage was reported in nearby homes.
Israeli strikes and artillery shelling hit several localities in the South
Late in the morning, Israeli airstrikes targeted Mansouri (Sour) three times, Qlayleh twice, as well as Yohmor al-Shaqif (Nabatieh), the outskirts of Qatrani (Jezzine), Zibqin (Sour), and Kafra (Bint Jbeil). Drone strikes also hit Harouf (Nabatieh), seriously injuring one person, and Shehabieh (Sour).
In addition, artillery fire targeted Majdal Zoun (Sour), Kafra, Haris, Haddatha, Yater (Bint Jbeil), Touline (Marjayoun), the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit and Nabatieh Fawqa, the heights of Ali al-Taher, as well as Haniyeh and Siddiqine (Sour).
An Israeli drone crashes in central Israel following alerts triggered by drones launched from the north
The Israeli army said on X that a drone made an emergency landing in central Israel due to a technical malfunction.
“The aircraft was recovered by IDF troops,” the army added, saying that “there were no casualties or damage.”
The Israeli army also said that another drone crashed in southern Lebanon, in an area where Israeli soldiers are operating, after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of northern Israel.
Six wounded in night strike on house in Doueir
On Sunday evening, in the Nabatieh district, Israeli aviation bombed a house in Doueir, near an al-Rissala Scouts center (affiliated with the Shiite Amal Movement), wounding six people who were transferred to hospitals. Another strike on Deir Zahrani destroyed a building, while two Israeli strikes targeted houses in Kafra.
In addition, an Israeli strike hit a building in Habboush, destroying it and cutting off the road.
During the night from Sunday to Monday, the Israeli army carried out air strikes on Arab Salim, the valley separating Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) from Deir Siryan (Marjayoun), as well as an apartment building in Kfar Joz (Nabatieh) and a house in Tibnin (Bint Jbeil). Artillery fire also targeted Mansouri, as well as the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit (Sour) and Nabatieh Fawqa (Nabatieh).
Southern Lebanon: Israel strikes 36 localities on Sunday, Hezbollah carries out 28 attacks
On Sunday, the Israeli army carried out 85 strikes on 36 localities in southern Lebanon, striking buildings, homes, and commercial centers and causing significant destruction, according to a count by our correspondent.
Israeli drones also struck 25 targets in 16 villages, including cars and motorcycles, killing several people. In addition, Israeli forces shelled 15 villages in the south with heavy artillery fire.
Hezbollah, for its part, said it carried out 28 attacks against Israeli military gatherings in Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory as well as in northern Israel.
Three people killed in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon
Three people were killed this morning in two Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon which targeted two vehicles, according to our correspondent in the region.
The first strike hit a vehicle on the road between Kfar Roummane and Jarmaq, while the second targeted a vehicle on the Khardali bridge road between Nabatieh and Marjayoun.
Joseph Aoun says Israeli withdrawal from the South is 'non-negotiable'
Speaking on the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon on May 25, 2000, President Joseph Aoun on Monday defended his decision to negotiate with Israel and said that the demand for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon was “non-negotiable,” as talks between the two countries are set to resume this week in Washington.
Israeli army issues evacuation notice for 10 villages in the Nabatieh and Jezzine districts
The Israeli army has ordered the ten villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate. The villages are located in the Nabatieh and Jezzine districts.
In a message on X, the Arabic-language military spokesperson ordered residents of these villages to move “1,000 meters” away ahead of strikes.
The villages are Nabatieh Tahta, Ain Qana, Harouf, Zibdin, Kfar Roummane, Doueir, Adsheet al-Shaqif, and Maidoun in the Nabatieh district, and Louaizeh and Sojod in the Jezzine district.
Iran says charging fees for 'navigational services' through Hormuz
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Tehran is charging fees for “navigational services” from ships transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, rather than imposing tolls, Reuters reported.
"The services that are provided — navigational services in addition to the measures necessary to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman — require the collection of certain fees," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing. He added that Iran is “not seeking to impose tolls.”
The spokesperson also said that if the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is finalized, some details of the protocol, as well as other issues including the nuclear question, would be negotiated over a 60-day period.
He further stated that the 14-point MoU is focused on ending the war and lifting the U.S. naval blockade, in exchange for Iran taking measures to ensure the safety of transit in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
He also said that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will not attend the U.N. Security Council meeting in New York due to issues related to his U.S. visa.
Iran said that agreement with US is not imminent, ending war in Lebanon will be part of its final version
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that progress has been made on several points discussed in talks over a possible memorandum of understanding with the United States, but this does not mean that Tehran is close to signing an agreement.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, he added that Iran is currently negotiating an end to the war and is not, for the moment, discussing nuclear issues. He also repeated that shifts in positions by U.S. officials are complicating any potential agreement.
He further reiterated that ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, will be part of any eventual agreement.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon, particularly in the South, where Israel continues to carry out attacks despite a nominal cease-fire that has been in place since mid-April.
We will also be following developments in the talks between Tehran and Washington, after President Donald Trump said on Saturday evening that a peace agreement with Iran had been "largely negotiated," pending finalization.
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