Israeli artillery fire on Arnoun al-Shaqif
Several Israeli occupation artillery strikes targeted the outskirts of the town of Arnoun al-Shaqif (Nabatieh), in parallel with fire in the area, reports our correspondent.
Israeli missiles on Braasheet
An Israeli occupation drone launched several missiles at the town of Braasheet (Bint Jbeil), reports our correspondent.
Exploding drone over Yater
A drone exploded over Yater (Bint Jbeil), our correspondent in south Lebanon, Mountasser Abdallah, reported.
Israel: Defense Ministry expects to treat 90,000 soldiers by year's end amid sharp rise in PTSD cases
Israel's Defense Ministry expects to be providing care to 90,000 soldiers by the end of the year amid a sharp rise in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Haaretz reported.
According to the newspaper, the ministry's Rehabilitation Department said that 26,200 Israeli soldiers have sought assistance since the start of the war, with 65 % suffering from psychological distress or PTSD.
The ministry added that it expects the total number of cases under its care to exceed 90,000 by the end of the year — a 40 % increase over three years — warning that the rehabilitation system could become overwhelmed.
More than 10,000 displaced people leave Akkar for Beirut and south Lebanon
More than 10,000 displaced people have left Akkar for Beirut and South Lebanon over the past 10 days, our correspondent in north Lebanon reported, citing a report by the Disaster Management Cell headed by Akkar Governor Imad Labaki.
According to the report, the total number of displaced people currently registered in Akkar stands at 7,362, representing 1,945 families. At the height of the crisis, that figure exceeded 17,000.
The displaced are currently spread across 70 towns and villages in the Akkar region.
Israeli drone strike on Kfar Tibnit; demolitions in Kounin
An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh). Meanwhile, the Israeli army demolished houses in Kounin (Bint Jbeil).
Drone strikes near hospital in Nabatieh Fawqa
Two drone strikes hit Nabatieh Fawqa near Ghandour Hospital. Ambulances from the Amal-affiliated Al-Rissala Scouts were dispatched to the scene, but no casualties have been reported so far.
Shiite alliance ministers voice 'reservations' about framework agreement with Israel
Discussions over the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement lasted more than an hour during the Cabinet meeting.
L'Orient Today has learned that the debate continued for around one hour and 15 minutes. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam used the opportunity to clarify that the text under discussion is merely a framework and that nothing has yet been finalized.
"It was reaffirmed during the debate, which took place in a calm atmosphere, that the Lebanese state remains committed to the negotiations and will continue moving forward with this process," a ministerial source said.
According to the same source, the Shiite alliance ministers — Rakan Nasreddine, Mohammad Haidar and Tamara Zein — expressed "reservations" about the framework agreement during the session.
"Everyone knows that we oppose direct negotiations, and that is what we said during the Cabinet meeting. We also object to the agreement having been approved before it was discussed by the government," Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar (Hezbollah) said. "We are waiting to receive a written text so that we can discuss it," he added.
Israeli army says it killed Hezbollah operative emerging from underground site in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said that its forces killed a Hezbollah member after “identifying him emerging from an access shaft of an underground tunnel network at the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon's security zone, where Israeli army soldiers are operating.”
L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south had reported earlier an Israeli drone strike on Ali Taher's forest.
Iran warns US, Israel against attacks ahead of Khamenei funeral
An Iranian military commander warned the United States and Israel on Thursday against any attack on Iran as it prepares for the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the first day of the war, Reuters reported.
"We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the U.S. and the Zionist regime [Israel], to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country," Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement carried by state media.
Drone strike on the Ali Taher forest
An Israeli army drone struck a forest on the strategic hill of Ali Taher (Nabatieh) at around 2:50 p.m. today.
Artillery strikes on Beit Yahoun; unidentified object explodes, injuring 1 person in Majdal Selm
Israeli artillery struck the town of Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil), while one person was injured by the explosion of an unidentified object in Majdel Selm (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent in south Lebanon.
Mojtaba Khamenei won’t attend father’s funeral: India representative
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral ceremonies for his father, the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, because of security concerns, the current leader’s representative in India has said.
Ayatollah Hakim Elahi told the India Today news channel that Israel’s continuing threats against Iran’s leaders was the reason Mojtaba Khamenei would not be able to attend.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz had recently threatened that Khamenei was “marked for death,” promoting a terse response from Iran, whose foreign minister warned that future threats would be met with a “powerful response.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated by the U.S. and Israeli forces on Feb. 28 at the start of their war on Iran.
No casualties reported after Israeli strike on BDL branch in Nabatieh, municipality says
In a statement, the Nabatieh municipality denied "false information circulating on certain social media platforms and WhatsApp groups" claiming that the bodies of four people were buried beneath the rubble of the local branch of the Banque du Liban (BDL, Central Bank), which was struck by the Israeli army on June 20.
The municipality stressed, in the statement relayed by our correspondent in south Lebanon, that these claims are "completely unfounded and bear no relation to the reality on the ground," urging people not to spread them.
On the day of the strike, the BDL condemned what it described as a "deliberate" attack by the Israeli army on its branch and had already stated that the strike caused no casualties.
Israeli attacks kill 4,298 and injure 12,196 since March 2
Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed since March 2 have killed over 4,298 people and injured 12,196 others, according to the Health Ministry. The toll recorded since yesterday increased by one killed.
Israeli drone launched sound bomb on Mansouri
An Israeli drone launched a sound grenade on the town of Mansouri (Sour), our correspondent in the South reported.
Israeli sweeping operation on Majdal Zoun
Israel launched large-scale machine gunfire on Majdal Zoun (Sour district) and its surroundings.
Iran chief negotiator calls to avenge Khamenei death with massive funeral turnout
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on Thursday for a massive turnout at Ali Khamenei's funeral to avenge the supreme leader's assassination by U.S.-Israeli strikes at the start of the war.
"I invite all the Iranian people... to write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence" at the funeral ceremonies starting Saturday, Ghalibaf said in a statement, adding: "The nation's call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world."
Hezbollah to hold funerals for several members today
Hezbollah is expected to hold funerals for several of its members on Thursday. Ten will be buried in their hometown of Touline, in the Marjayoun district, while another will be buried in Aitit, in the Sour district.
Israeli army demolishes homes in Bint Jbeil district
Overnight, Israel demolished and blew up homes in the Bint Jbeil district, our correspondent in the South reported.
Shortly after 1 a.m., the Israeli army carried out a massive demolition in Beit Yahoun, while fires it had ignited in several homes in the village were still burning. The fires had not been extinguished by dawn. The sound of explosions continued to echo across several border villages until the early morning hours.
Yesterday, around 9:30 p.m., Israel destroyed homes and farmland in Beit Yahoun, Ainata and Haddatha, in the Bint Jbeil district, and set several buildings on fire. The explosions were also heard from afar.
Froun and Zawtar Gharbieh reject 'pilot zones' denomination
After 10 p.m., the municipalities of Froun and Zawtar Gharbieh, both in the Bint Jbeil district, issued statements rejecting reports that their villages had been included in what have been described as "pilot zones," areas identified in the framework agreement negotiated in Washington between Lebanon and Israel where Israeli forces are expected to withdraw before the Lebanese Army deploys.
The two municipalities called for "a more accurate description of the situation" and more precise terminology reflecting the goal of a full Israeli withdrawal, as well as an end to Israeli violations and the continued demolition of homes.
'Positive progress' in US-Iran indirect talks in Doha, Qatar spokesman says
U.S. and Iran negotiators made "positive progress" during indirect talks in Doha, with the next round expected after the late Iranian supreme leader's funeral, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said.
"Qatar & Pakistan mediators concluded separate meetings with the U.S. & Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, building on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari wrote Wednesday on X.
"The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian supreme leader."
Iran-U.S. negotiations to resume after Ali Khamenei's funeral, Qatar says
Good morning and thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the fragile cease-fires in Lebanon and Iran, and the events in the region.
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