Rescuers find 1 seriously injured person and 2 bodies in Wadi Slouki, 2 weeks since disappearance | LIVE

Health Ministry: Israel has killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon since 2 March

The Health Ministry has reported that Israel has killed 4,301 people and injured a further 12,199 since it re-escalated its war on Lebanon on March 2.

People missing after 'cease-fire': Security sources confirm they have found one injured person and two bodies in Wadi Slouki

After more than two weeks of searching, security sources have confirmed to our correspondent in southern Lebanon that rescue teams and the Lebanese Army have found one injured person and discovered two bodies, believed to be among the four people who went missing on June 15, in two separate areas, whilst they were returning to the South following the cease-fire in Lebanon that was included as part of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.

The four were Mohammad Hassan (aged 34), Ali Qachmar (aged 39), Hadi Reqqa (aged 19), and Jawad Bazzi (aged 19), whose relatives had organised a sit-in last week outside the Grand Serail in Beirut to demand information about their fate.

The injured man is Mohammad Hassan (aged 34), as confirmed by his wife, Farah, to our correspondent. He was found alive and taken to hospital, suffering from serious injuries, one of which resulted in the amputation of a leg, as well as medical complications arising from the long period during which he remained injured. She said she had gone to the hospital to check on him and to fully ascertain his state of health.

According to a rescue team official interviewed, the relevant authorities received a report from a shepherd stating that there were “bones” in the area. “The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition,” he explained. “The search teams noticed traces of blood in the vicinity, which led them to inspect a house situated near the valley. Upon entering the house, which was empty, they discovered Hassan seriously injured,” she continued. According to the source, Hassan explained that he “was riding a motorbike with one of his companions when an Israeli drone targeted their vehicle with a missile, whilst a second missile struck the other motorbike.”

He reportedly then “managed, despite his injuries, to crawl to a house near the valley where he took refuge.” Next to him were a few biscuits, according to the source.

The two victims have not yet been identified. The fate of the fourth person remains unknown at this stage.

Acting UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon meets with Aoun, Salam, and Berri, says he 'hears a common message'

The new acting U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the French diplomat Jean Arnault, met in separate talks — as part of his official handover — with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and said he had “heard a common message that the Lebanese people are capable of facing challenges in a spirit of unity and national solidarity," reports the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

According to a statement from the U.N. mission in Lebanon, these introductory meetings provided “an opportunity to discuss key developments and avenues for cooperation between the United Nations and Lebanon in order to advance the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 [2006],” which provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese Army in southern Lebanon, and which refers to a resolution calling for the disarmament of non-state armed groups.

He also discussed in more detail with Salam the post-UNIFIL period, as the mission’s mandate is due to expire at the end of 2026.

HRW: Israel-Lebanon agreement betrays war crime victims

The framework deal signed between Israel and Lebanon last month “threatens to betray war crimes victims in Lebanon,” said Human Rights Watch in a statement.

“Parts of the text appear to be aimed at preventing victims of serious international crimes from seeking justice before international forums. Others seem to acquiesce to the prolonged and indefinite forced displacement of tens of thousands of residents of vast swathes of southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli forces," it said.

Israel and Lebanon signed the U.S.-brokered agreement on June 26 with the aim of disarming Hezbollah and restoring the monopoly of arms to the Lebanese Army.

As for Amnesty International, its Secretary General Agnes Callamard said that: “Time and time again we have seen civilians in Lebanon pay the price for successive cycles of conflict and serious violations and crimes under international law with no accountability." “Victims of war crimes and other violations deserve justice. Any agreement that fails to center their rights to justice, accountability, and reparations will falter underneath the very impunity it builds.”

UNIFIL spokesperson: Situation in southern Lebanon extremely fragile, we fear a further escalation

The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Kandice Ardiel, told the Emirati broadcaster Sky News Arabia that the situation in southern Lebanon remained “extremely fragile” and said she “fears a further escalation of tensions,” at a time when Israel continues to occupy 10 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory along the border. “The level of violence has decreased, but we continue to see violations, most of which originate from the Israeli side,” said the spokesperson. “Our forces hope to reduce the frequency of violence and violations to zero in order to protect civilians,” she added.

Emphasizing that the U.N. force continued to “assist communities in southern Lebanon despite the destruction and challenges,” Ardiel further stated that it was “necessary to support proposals aimed at strengthening the mandate of international forces in southern Lebanon.”

UNIFIL’s mandate is due to expire at the end of 2026, and the details of the deployment of an international force in southern Lebanon following its withdrawal are currently under discussion, French President Emmanuel Macron stated last week.

Israeli drone launches stun grenade on Nabatieh Fawqa

An Israeli drone fired a stun grenade on the town of Nabatieh Fawqa (Nabatieh), our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.

Hezbollah delegation attends Khamenei’s funeral in Tehran

A Hezbollah delegation, accompanied by family members of its former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah and former commander Imad Moughnieh, is in Tehran to pay their last respects to Ali Khamenei, the former Iranian Supreme Leader who was assassinated on 28 February.

According to footage broadcast by al-Mayadeen, the delegation includes Hezbollah MPs Hassan Ezzeddine and Ali Fayad, as well as the vice-chairman of the political bureau, Mahmoud Comati, and the chairman of the Executive Council, Mohammad Fneich. The group paid their respects at Khamenei’s coffin. Several members of the delegation appeared deeply moved, with some appearing to be in tears as they paid their final respects.

Israel claims strikes on 10 Hezbollah sites in south Lebanon

Israel claimed it had struck 10 Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon since Thursday, including several sites in the Bint Jbeil district.

In a statement posted on social media, the army said it responded to an "attack against its forces in the security zone," referring to the more than 600-square-kilometer "buffer zone" of Lebanese territory it has occupied along the border.

It said it struck "approximately 10 Hezbollah facilities" in Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounin, and Braasheet.

The Israeli military reported earlier Friday that a reservist had been seriously wounded in combat, with Israeli media reporting clashes with a Hezbollah fighter in Bint Jbeil.

The army also claimed it struck overnight "a group of Hezbollah members transporting weapons in a truck" near the "buffer zone."

Our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported an Israeli drone strike on a pickup truck in Siddiqine (Sour), north of the "buffer zone," that seriously injured two people.

Hezbollah calls for gathering on Wednesday, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, to mark Khamenei’s funeral

Hezbollah called for a gathering in Ashura square, in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday at 9 p.m. to coincide with funeral ceremonies held for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a statement released by the party.

The invitation urges participation in “Lebanese and international popular gatherings” held in parallel with the official ceremonies.

South Lebanon: Israel blows up houses in Kfar Tibnit, fires drones on Safad al-Battikh

An explosion was heard in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported, adding that it may have been caused by the Israeli army blowing up houses.

If confirmed, it would be the first time Israel has used explosives in the village, located on the outskirts of the strategic Ali Taher hills.

Meanwhile, an Israeli drone fired a bomb on Safad al-Battikh (Bint Jbeil), without causing casualties. A funeral for eight Hezbollah fighters is scheduled to be held there today.

A similar attack, using a stun grenade, also took place in Mansouri, in the Sour district. Mansouri is located a few hundred meters north of the "buffer zone" established and occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon.

Ghalibaf threatens 'appropriate measures' if US, Israel fail to honor commitments

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would again take "appropriate measures" if the United States and Israel fail to honor their commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, Reuters reported.

NYT: Israel considered assassinating Iran's top negotiators

U.S. officials believe Israel planned to assassinate Iran's top negotiators, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to derail talks between Tehran and Washington, The New York Times (NYT) reported Thursday.

According to the newspaper, Israel has historically sought to eliminate senior Iranian officials, but U.S. concerns over potential attacks on Araghchi and Ghalibaf peaked during the U.S.-Iran negotiations that began in April.

The report said the United States, fearing such assassinations would derail the talks, asked other countries in the region to warn Iran that the two officials could be targeted by Israel.

According to the NYT, U.S. officials believed Ghalibaf and Araghchi, as senior Iranian officials, "would have been legitimate targets for Israel during the period of active war," but that any attempt to assassinate them during the negotiations "would have ended those negotiations and reignited the fighting."

UNICEF: 100,000 Lebanese students risk missing next term without school repairs

UNICEF warned that at least 100,000 Lebanese students may not be able to attend school next term if urgent action is not taken before September to rehabilitate schools damaged by the war.

The U.N. agency cited a survey by the Education Ministry that recorded 340 damaged buildings belonging to public, private and technical institutions, including 17 that were completely destroyed in the latest war between Hezbollah and Israel since March 2.

The assessment was developed with technical support from UNICEF through the Transition and Resilience Education Fund, backed by the European Union, Germany, France and Switzerland, according to a statement issued Thursday evening.

🔗 More details here.

Iran: Supreme leader's body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral

The body of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, arrived at the religious complex in Tehran where his funeral will be held, state media reported.

"The body of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Grand Mosalla Mosque of Imam Khomeini," state-run news agency IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex's official name.

Iran: Revolutionary Guard chief makes first public appearance since war

Ahmad Vahidi, the head of the Revolutionary Guard, paid his respects in Tehran before the body of Ali Khamenei in his first public appearance since the war began in February, according to images broadcast by Iranian media.

Keeping a low profile since the start of the war, likely to avoid being assassinated like his predecessor, Vahidi placed his hand on the coffin and prayed, according to a photo released by the Fars news agency.

Hezbollah plans funeral ceremonies today

Hezbollah is expected to hold funeral ceremonies today for several of its fighters killed by the Israeli occupation army in southern Lebanon.

Eight are to be buried in Safad al-Battikh, in the Bint Jbeil district, one in Derdghaya, one in Nafakhieh and one in Ramadieh, all in the Sour district.

The Amal Movement, meanwhile, buried seven of its members Thursday in Zibdin, in the Nabatieh district.

Israeli occupation reservist seriously wounded in south Lebanon

The Israeli occupation army said on X that one of its reservists was seriously wounded Thursday "during a clash in southern Lebanon."

"The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family has been notified," the army said.

According to Channel 11 military correspondent Itay Blumental, the soldier was wounded around 6 p.m. in Bint Jbeil during an operation by a unit of the Yiftach Reserve Brigade, when Israeli soldiers "encountered a terrorist who opened fire on them from a building."

Blumental added that the fighter who fired on the brigade "has not yet been located" and that Israeli artillery struck "terrorist targets in the area."

Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for any attacks since the partial cease-fire took effect on June 20.

Series of overnight Israeli attacks on south Lebanon seriously injured 2 people in Sour

The Israeli occupation army carried out several attacks on southern Lebanon overnight from Thursday to Friday, bombing houses in several areas, according to our correspondent.

Around 10:30 p.m., the Israeli occupation army carried out a massive bombing in Beit Yahoun, in the Bint Jbeil district, the sound of which was heard far and wide.

A little later, at 11 p.m., Israeli aircraft raided Braasheet, also in the Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli occupation forces fired medium machine guns at Beit Yahoun and Haddatha, in the Bint Jbeil district.

After midnight, another sweep of Haddatha was reported.

Israeli aircraft targeted a pickup truck in Siddiqine, in the Sour district, seriously injuring two people, who were hospitalized.

Around the same time, another explosion was reported in Beit Yahoun, and a raid hit Deir Siryan, in the Marjayoun district.

After 1 a.m., another explosion shook Markaba, in the Marjayoun district.

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

We are now launching our live coverage of the situation in Lebanon, where the Israeli occupation army continues to carry out targeted strikes and systematic destruction in the South, despite a cease-fire that has been in place for nearly two weeks.

We will also be following the situation in the region, particularly in Iran, where the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, assassinated on Feb. 28 in Israeli-American airstrikes on Tehran, is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Find our live coverage from yesterday here.