Katz says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is 'disarmed'; Border villages ‘had to disappear’ | LIVE

Israel carries out airstrike and causes explosion in Marjayoun district

Following several hours of relative calm in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army carried out an airstrike in the evening targeting an area between Qantara and Deir Siryan, as well as an explosion in the border village of Markaba (Marjayoun), reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

South Lebanon: Soldier ‘seriously injured’ following explosion near Beaufort Castle, Israeli army announces

An Israeli occupation army reservist was "seriously injured" on Monday following an explosion in southern Lebanon near Beaufort Castle (Nabatieh), the Israeli army has announced, according to Haaretz. The Israeli army “is still investigating the cause of the explosion,” it said. The soldier was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Katz says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed; border villages ‘had to disappear’

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that the Israeli army will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah “is disarmed,” emphasizing that this security provision is “set out in the annex to the framework agreement” signed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on Friday. Stating that he did not believe the Lebanese Army “would suddenly be made up of lions charging at Hezbollah,” Katz declared that the Israeli occupation of the South would “therefore be a long-term one.”

“People should not be holding their breath wondering which part of Lebanon Israel will withdraw from next, because that will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed. We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah is disarmed, we will not withdraw a single millimeter,” he said, in comments reported by The Times of Israel. He claimed to have agreed with the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, that “the Israeli army will not withdraw from the three security zones — in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza."

Regarding the systematic destruction of Lebanese villages in the occupied border strip, Katz stated that it was “clear that the Shia villages along the line of contact had to be wiped out in order to protect Israel’s border.”

According to him, in the western and central sectors of southern Lebanon, “nearly 100 per cent of the villages along the line of contact have been destroyed,” whilst in the eastern sector, “73% of the villages have been destroyed.”

He claims that around 600,000 “Shiites from the villages of southern Lebanon have fled,” and that a further 700,000 people have been displaced from the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The CMA CGM Foundation and L’Œuvre d’Orient send humanitarian aid to Deir Mimas

The CMA CGM Foundation and the NGO L’Œuvre d’Orient have announced that they have delivered a second humanitarian convoy carrying food and essential supplies to the village of Deir Mimas (Marjayoun), in response to the needs of the families who remain there despite the difficult conditions.

The press release states that “thanks to this solidarity initiative, more than 300 families in Deir Mimas and neighboring villages have received aid, helping to provide a rapid response to the most urgent needs.”

This humanitarian operation "forms part of the ‘Containers of Hope" program and reinforces the CMA CGM Foundation’s commitment to supporting displaced people and the most vulnerable communities in Lebanon,” the press release added. L’Œuvre d’Orient, with the support of the CMA CGM Foundation, had already sent an initial humanitarian convoy to the village of Dibil (Marjayoun) on June 6.

War in Lebanon: 400,000 people have returned to their home regions, representing 40% of those displaced, announces Haneen Sayed

Social Development Minister Haneen Sayed has announced that 400,000 forcibly displaced people in Lebanon — out of more than one million since Israel re-escalated the war on March 2 — have “returned to their home regions,” representing “40% of those displaced,” reports the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

She added that “the number of displaced people housed in reception centers has also fallen to 13,000, down from 37,000 previously, meaning that 63 per cent of them have left these centers.”

The minister clarified that “some reception centers will remain open to accommodate displaced people who are not yet able to return to their homes.” “The number of reception centers has fallen from 692 at the height of the crisis to 479 today, representing the closure of 213 centers. In Beirut, the number has fallen from 150 to 100,” she added.

Sayed added that “the number of accommodation centers has fallen across all districts, with the exception of Nabatieh, where additional centers have been opened to accommodate displaced people wishing to remain close to their villages."

Israel carries out new detonation near Beaufort Castle

Israel has carried out another detonation in the vicinity of Beaufort Castle (Nabatieh), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Israel kills 15-year old during raid in occupied West Bank

Relatives mourn the death of Amir Ahmad Jawad Jaber, a Palestinian teenager who was shot and killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Al Bireh on June 29, 2026. (Credit: Zain Jaafar/AFP)

The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that 15-year-old Amine Jaber was killed by Israeli gunfire during their raid on the Umm al-Sharayet neighborhood in al-Bireh, a city in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli soldiers shot him twice in the head and chest, reported Al Jazeera citing the ministry.

Read more here.

Qatar suspends sailing and other maritime activities until further notice

Qatar advised the temporary suspension of sailing and some other maritime activities in the country until further notice, according to Reuters. It did not provide a reasoning behind the measure, but it comes one day after Qatar said one of its nationals was killed after sustaining injuries from shrapnel due to "military operations in the region" after his vessel went missing.

The Qatari transport ministry said the precautionary measure includes leisure and fishing boats, jet skis and all other maritime vessels, noting that vessels subject to provisions of international maritime conventions are exempted.

Head of U.S. Central Command visits Lebanon, discusses framework agreement with Aoun, Haykal

During his visit to Lebanon on Monday, the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Army commander Rudolph Haykal, with whom he discussed the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel signed on Friday.

Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Cooper discussed with Aoun the preparations related to the start of implementing the framework agreement, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Presidency on X.

Aoun's meeting with Cooper was also attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Keith Hennigan, and the head of the mechanism team, Joseph Clairfield.

Aoun thanked Cooper for the "attention shown by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Lebanon in order to achieve security and stability," stressing the "determination of the Lebanese state to extend its authority through its armed forces up to the southern international borders."

Read more here.

Katz: 'The connection between the Iran and Lebanon fronts is an American interest'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed "regret" at the Iran-Lebanon link, saying: "The connection between the Iran and Lebanon fronts is an American interest; if there had been no connection between the fronts, Hezbollah would have collapsed." According to the Defense Minister, the change in Trump's position came after a conversation between him and Netanyahu in which Katz was not on the line.

Katz stated that the Israeli army had then moved on to "Plan B," which he defined as "pushing deeper into the 'Yellow Line' zone in southern Lebanon" — that is, the area occupied by the Israeli army, which extends nearly 10 kilometers into Lebanon.

In the second half of June, the Israeli army advanced towards Nabatieh, with particularly fierce fighting taking place on Ali Taher Hill, south of the town, before a new "cease-fire" last week brought the offensive to a halt. According to the Israeli minister, Trump “exerted pressure” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and held five telephone calls “in the run-up to the signing of the memorandum of understanding.”

“I was not present during the fifth conversation. The President exerted pressure, and it was following that exchange that the link between the two fronts was established. From that moment on, residents returned to southern Lebanon and Hezbollah also strengthened its presence in that region,” he said.

Head of CENTCOM and Haykal discuss implementing Lebanon-Israel framework agreement

Lebanese Army commander Rodolph Haykal received the commander of U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, at his office in Yarzeh.

The two discussed the importance of ensuring the success of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, according to a statement posted by the Lebanese Army on X.

They also discussed "ways to strengthen cooperation in the future," the statement said.

Following the signing of the agreement, the United States announced it would provide $30 million to the Lebanese Army to help them carry out their mission of disarming Hezbollah.

Witkoff, Kushner expected in Doha for continued US talks with Iran

The envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump's, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will participate in a meeting scheduled for Tuesday with Iran in Doha, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced.

"Special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Doha for high-level meetings this week as we continue discussions on the memorandum of understanding. Alongside these high-level meetings, technical discussions will also take place," she said in an interview with Fox News.

Iran, however, has denied this meeting is to take place.

Trump says 'Iran requested meeting,' scheduled for Tuesday in Doha, few hours after Tehran denied it

Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that Iranian authorities had "requested a meeting," which he said would take place Tuesday in Doha, just hours after Tehran denied the same information. "IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA," the U.S. president claimed.

Qatar is mediating, along with Pakistan, in talks between the two countries aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.

Israel claims risk of attack from Lebanon or Iran remains high

Israeli security officials have assessed that the risk of an attack from Iran or Lebanon "against Israeli civilians" remains high, according to a document submitted to top government officials, cited in Haaretz.

Based on this assessment, Israeli ministers approved, in an emergency telephone vote, the extension of the special state of emergency on the home front. This extension still needs to be submitted to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to take effect.

Israel's attack on suspected Hezbollah tunnel in Majdal Zoun cut village 'in two,' say residents

The village of Majdal Zoun was cut in two by Israeli dynamiting. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah)

Haidar, a resident of Majdal Zoun (Sour), stated that the major explosion caused by Israel's massive detonations last night, allegedly targeting a Hezbollah tunnel, literally "cut the village in two," creating a massive trench in its center.

He explained that this "trench," whose exact dimensions and depth remain unknown, is now visible from neighboring villages.

The central part of the village, "which was one of the most beautiful in the region," has reportedly collapsed entirely.

According to him, the Baydar and Bayyad sectors are now separated by a chasm resembling "a newly formed valley," describing the scene as "terrifying."

Residents also told our correspondent that the tunnel whose destruction caused the collapse in the center of the village "extended under the most densely populated part of Majdal Zoun," including the public square, homes, and the mosque, following a route with several branches, which reportedly caused collapses in multiple locations throughout the village.

Even before this detonation, Majdal Zoun had not been spared from Israeli attacks. Discover here what this village meant to its inhabitants, in our series on localities in southern Lebanon under Israeli fire.

Iran denies meeting with US in coming days

No meeting between Iran and the United States is "planned this week" in Qatar, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated, denying reports in American media that a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

"No technical meeting of the working groups is planned this week," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi was quoted as saying by state television, calling the reports "incorrect."

Israeli occupation army claims it struck 3 Hezbollah positions in Nabatieh, Mayfadoun on Sunday

The Israeli occupation army claimed responsibility for strikes carried out Sunday against three Hezbollah positions in Nabatieh and Mayfadoun, in southern Lebanon.

According to the Israeli occupation army's Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, the strikes were conducted in response to Hezbollah's continued attacks against its forces operating in the "buffer zone."

The statement added that another strike, carried out earlier Sunday, targeted a Hezbollah launch site without specifying its location.

In a statement released overnight, Hezbollah said it "respects" the cease-fire and reserves the right to "defend its homeland."

Salam and Berri reject any attempt at 'national division'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri reaffirmed Sunday evening their rejection of "any form of discord" among the Lebanese and of any "attempt at national division," two days after the signing, under U.S. auspices, of a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The agreement, reached at the end of the fifth round of negotiations between the two countries in Washington, was categorically rejected by the Amal-Hezbollah alliance.

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CENTCOM chief expected in Lebanon today, according to media reports

The commander of U.S. Central Command, Brad Cooper, is expected to arrive in Lebanon today after a visit to Israel, according to the daily al-Joumhouria and MTV.

According to the newspaper, Cooper is scheduled to present in Beirut the "implementation mechanism" for the Israeli withdrawal from the "pilot zones" in south Lebanon and to "support the initial stages of implementing the agreement."

US, Iran suspend hostilities 'for time being'

The United States and Iran will suspend their recent mutual attacks, which marked a resumption of hostilities after the signing of their memorandum of understanding, a U.S. official announced overnight.

"Technical discussions are expected to continue on all points of the memorandum of understanding. Both sides will cease [their attacks] for the time being, and ships can move freely" in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the official said in an email to AFP.

The two sides had accused each other of violating the cease-fire in recent days, amid renewed tensions following the signing of their memorandum of understanding on June 17.

The U.S. official did not, however, confirm reports in U.S. media that Iranian and U.S. officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Qatar, with the Strait of Hormuz on the agenda.

Sealed by the Islamic Republic during the war launched on Feb. 28 by Israel and the United States, which destabilized global hydrocarbon trade and sent oil prices soaring, the strait reopened last week.

Tehran, however, only allows passage through a single corridor along its coastline and has threatened to attack any vessel that violates the closure.

Since Thursday, two ships have been hit by projectiles of unknown origin — attacks the U.S. military has attributed to Tehran, prompting two consecutive days of U.S. strikes on Iran.

Tehran, for its part, responded by firing missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbors, including Kuwait and Bahrain.

Hezbollah says reserves right to 'defend its homeland' after Israeli attacks in south Lebanon

Hezbollah says it reserves the right to "defend its homeland" following renewed Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, despite the framework agreement signed Friday aimed at a "lasting peace" between the two countries.

In a statement released overnight from Sunday to Monday, the group "reaffirms that what the enemy has done is a flagrant violation of the cease-fire to which it had adhered until now, and that it is monitoring and documenting these violations, reserving the right to defend its homeland and its people."

The group refers to several attacks reported over the weekend, including an Israeli strike on a residential building in Nabatieh, another targeting a residential building in Mayfadoun, in the Nabatieh district, and a drone strike in Froun, in the Bint Jbeil district.

Hezbollah says these attacks constitute a "clear violation" of the cease-fire, which it says it continues to "comply" with.

South Lebanon: Israeli strike overnight in Nabatieh

While a fragile calm prevails this morning across various areas of southern Lebanon, the night was marked by a series of Israeli attacks.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Israeli occupation aircraft struck a building in the al-Maslakh neighborhood of Nabatieh, prompting residents to flee to Sidon, according to our correspondent.

Israeli gunfire was reported in the Hujeir Valley, in the Bint Jbeil district, while Israeli occupation military vehicles were seen operating in the area.

Large-scale overnight blast in Majdal Zoun, Sour district; Israel claims destroyed Hezbollah tunnel

Overnight between Sunday and Monday, Israeli occupation forces carried out a major blasting operation in Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district, where the area was seen ablaze, reports our correspondent in the South.

The explosions were so powerful that residents of Mansouri, Haniyeh and neighboring villages felt a tremor before the blast, which was also heard near Ansar, Doueir and the villages of Zahrani.

Shortly beforehand, the Lebanese Army ordered Mansouri residents to evacuate the town in anticipation of the Israeli blasting operation in the neighboring village.

The Israeli occupation army claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying it had "destroyed a tunnel containing hundreds of weapons and four launch ramps aimed at Israeli territory."

It also claimed the discovery of the tunnel a week ago and organized a tour of the site for journalists.

"This tunnel was built using technologies and know-how attributed to the Iranian regime," the army's Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, wrote in a post on X, adding that it was more than 200 meters long and more than 25 meters deep.

The village of Haddatha, in the Bint Jbeil district, was also targeted by demolition operations targeting homes.

For more on the Majdal Zoun tunnel, (re-)read Layal Dagher's article on the subject here.

?️Catch up on our Morning Brief

Our Morning Brief brings you an extensive roundup of the weekend's news so you're all caught up before today's live updates.

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Good morning. We are now launching our live coverage of the region.

We are now launching our live coverage of the situation in Lebanon, following the signing Friday evening of a framework agreement with Israel that has caused internal divisions.

We will also be following the situation in the region, particularly in Iran and the Gulf states, after two exchanges of airstrikes between Tehran and Washington over the weekend.

Find our live coverage from yesterday here.