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Heavy Israeli strikes hit central Sour; strikes on 'popular housing districts' kill at least 5 | LIVE

What you need to know

The Israeli army said it intercepted a ''suspicious aerial target coming from Yemen,'' following threats by the Houthis on Monday.

Automatic gunfire clashes were heard in the strategic Wadi Houjeir valley and in Ghandourieh, in central southern Lebanon.

The crew of a U.S. Army helicopter was rescued after it crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.

13:31 Beirut Time

UN probe accuses Israel of enabling settler violence, flags Hamas abuses

A U.N. inquiry accuses Israeli authorities of enabling settler violence in the occupied West Bank, citing financial and military support and a climate of impunity. The report says attacks on Palestinians have surged since 2023, with security forces often accompanying settlers.

It also documents serious abuses by Hamas in Gaza, including executions and severe violence, which it says amount to war crimes.

Find out more about the probe 👉here.

12:46 Beirut Time

Death toll from strikes on Sour’s 'popular districts' rises to 5

The preliminary toll from Israeli air raids targeting several residential buildings in Sour’s “popular districts” earlier this morning, before the renewed evacuation order issued by the Israeli army, has risen to 5 killed and 34 wounded.

According to our correspondent in the south, remains have also been recovered from the rubble, with identities still unconfirmed.

Among the 34 wounded, three required surgical intervention. Civil Defense and rescue teams are continuing search and debris-removal operations at the struck buildings.

12:23 Beirut Time

Two senior Iranian air force officials killed in Tehran, state media says

Two senior officials in Iran’s air force are killed on Monday in Tehran, according to Iranian state television, which reports that their funerals will take place on Tuesday.

The announcement comes after exchanges of strikes between Iran and Israel on Sunday night and Monday. Iran had launched missiles toward northern Israel late Sunday, in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Tensions have since eased, according to reports, following mediation efforts led by the United States.

12:07 Beirut Time

Double strike in Sharqiyeh leaves civil defense rescuers wounded

Two members of civil defense were wounded in a double strike on Sharqieh in the Nabatieh district, the agency said in a statement.

A team had been dispatched to the site after an initial drone strike hit the village square, when it was then targeted by a missile. Two rescuers were “lightly wounded” and transferred to hospital.

12:06 Beirut Time

Israeli strikes on Sour kill 4 and injure 11 in preliminary toll

Four people are killed and 11 others injured after Israeli bombardments on Sour’s “popular districts,” according to a medical source cited by our correspondent in the south.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with several people still trapped under the rubble. One of the victims has been identified as Hani Dalbani.

Israeli aviation also bombarded Aita al-Jabal (Nabatieh) and the banks of the Khardali area between Nabatieh and Marjayoun.

12:05 Beirut Time

Hezbollah says it targets Israeli advance north of buffer zone in Byout al-Siyyad

Hezbollah says it carried out a rocket attack on an Israeli armored force attempting to advance between Bayada and Byout al-Siyyad “under heavy fire cover.”

According to the group, Israeli troops later retreated toward Bayada after the attack.

Byout al-Siyyad lies north of the de facto buffer zone established by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.

11:31 Beirut Time

Drone strike kills one on motorcycle in Msayleh south of Saida

A person is killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Msayleh, south of Saida, according to our correspondent in South Lebanon.

A drone also targets a car in the main square of Sharqieh in the Nabatieh district, while bombardments hit Srifa (Sour), Burj Qalaway and Yater (Bint Jbeil).

10:50 Beirut Time

Our report from Sour's Christian enclave, a 'microcosm of Lebanon at war'

Our report from Sour's Christian enclave, a 'microcosm of Lebanon at war'

A motorcyclist passes in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the old port of Sour’s Christian quarter, on June 1, 2026, in south Lebanon. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour)

The Christian quarter of Sour, which had not so far been included in successive Israeli evacuation orders for the city, has been continuously receiving new displaced people fleeing other parts of the city and the surrounding region.

➡️ (Re-)read here our reporter Caroline Hayek’s report from Sour’s Christian enclave, a microcosm of Lebanon at war.

10:23 Beirut Time

Israeli strike kills one in Sour’s popular housing district; 2 remain missing

Two Israeli airstrikes carried out around 9:20 a.m. on Sour’s popular housing district kill one person, whose body is recovered from the rubble by rescue teams, while two others remain missing.

The strikes target buildings inhabited by the Sahyoun, Wehbeh, Askar and Kheir families, according to our correspondent.

Shortly before 10 a.m., artillery fire also targets Srifa (Sour) and then Froun (Bint Jbeil), while an Israeli airstrike directly hits Bouyout al-Siyad (Sour).

10:14 Beirut Time

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09:58 Beirut Time

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09:50 Beirut Time

Sour bombed even before evacuation order; two killed in Kfar Roummane

Israeli warplanes had already carried out several strikes on the city of Sour before the evacuation order was issued, targeting the “popular housing” neighborhood (al-massaken al-shaabiya).

Four raids hit residential buildings in the area, according to our correspondent, who added that ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Separately, a drone strike on Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh) killed two people, while additional air strikes targeted Kfar Sir in the same region, as well as Haddatha (Bint Jbeil).

09:48 Beirut Time

Israel orders evacuation of Sour and surrounding areas

The Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of the entire city of Sour and its surroundings, including the Christian neighborhood that had so far been spared threats and bombardment, ahead of expected strikes.

In a post on X, Arabic-language military spokesperson Avichay Adraee called on residents across the area to “move north of the Zahrani River,” which flows into the sea more than 25 kilometers north of Sour.

He accused Hezbollah of being present “in the Christian neighborhood,” repeating claims made in recent days, and warned that strikes against the group would take place “in the near future.”

The localities included in the evacuation order are Shabriha, Hamdieh, Jal Al-Bahr, Zkouk al-Mafdi, al-Bass, Maashouq, Burj al-Shemali, Nabaa, Hosh, Rashidieh and Ain Baal.

The evacuation zone outlined in the map published by Adraee covers an area of approximately 20 square kilometers.

09:44 Beirut Time

Israel says intercepted “suspicious aerial target coming from Yemen”

The Israeli army said it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target coming from Yemen” early this morning in the south of the country, with no injuries reported.

“A suspicious aerial target coming from Yemen was intercepted. The incident is over. No injuries were reported,” the army said, adding that the interception took place in the Eilat area.

09:44 Beirut Time

Trump says pilots safe after US army Apache goes down near Hormuz

Donald Trump said the two pilots of an Apache combat helicopter were unharmed after reports by The New York Times that their aircraft had crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

“The pilots are fine, yes. Nobody is injured,” he said, adding that a report would be released later.

09:43 Beirut Time

Nearly 40 Israeli strikes targeted 25 villages across south Lebanon on Monday, according to our correspondent

Israeli drones struck six villages, while artillery shelled 19 others. White phosphorus munitions were reportedly used in at least one location. The Israeli army also continued demolishing homes in at least four villages.

For its part, Hezbollah carried out 16 attacks on Monday, the last at 7:30 p.m., targeting gatherings of Israeli soldiers in occupied Lebanese territory, mostly around Beaufort Castle.

09:42 Beirut Time

Gunfire and machine-gun bursts were heard around Yater (Bint Jbeil), in the strategic Wadi Houjeir valley (Marjayoun), and near Ghandourieh

The Israeli army has been attempting for several days to cross the valley from occupied eastern-sector villages and advance toward Ghandourieh, while Hezbollah has recently reported clashes in the area.

09:42 Beirut Time

A heavy Israeli 'ring of fire' struck Abbassieh, north of Sour, on Tuesday morning, injuring 2 people who were rescued by Civil Defense teams

Earlier strikes had already targeted Abbassieh and Rmadieh, while a separate strike hit Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain, wounding one person.

In the Nabatieh district, two people were killed in a raid on Kfar Roummane, while a drone fired two missiles at the town. Roads in the region have been heavily targeted by drones in recent days, severely restricting movement.

Overnight, Israeli artillery struck Qsaybeh and Ali Taher hill, as well as Shehour, Srifa, Mansouri, Touline and Qalawieh. A helicopter swept areas around Zawtar Sharqieh and Zawtar Gharbieh. Around midnight, shells hit the outskirts of Kfar Shuba, while artillery also targeted Kfar Sir.

09:38 Beirut Time

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon, where the south and the Bekaa remain under Israeli bombardment, with part of the territory still occupied.

We will also follow developments in Iran, as Donald Trump said he is in his "final throes” to secure an agreement following recent exchanges of strikes between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Catch up on what you missed yesterday and what to keep an eye out for today by reading our 👉Morning Brief.