Israel destroys key sections of tunnel network in Beaufort Castle area in south Lebanon | LIVE

Israeli shelling hits Tallousa; stun grenade dropped on Mansouri

Israeli artillery shelled the southern Lebanese town of Tallousa (Marjayoun district), according to our correspondent. An Israeli drone also dropped a stun grenade on Mansouri (Sour district).

China says no nationals killed in Iranian strike on Chinese-owned building in Kuwait

China's Foreign Ministry said Friday that no Chinese nationals were killed after an Iranian strike hit a building owned by a Chinese company in Kuwait.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing had urged Kuwait to take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for Kuwait's Defense Ministry said an Iranian strike had hit a building owned by a Chinese company in northern Kuwait, killing one employee.

Drone targets Iranian Kurdish opposition base east of Erbil

An Iranian Kurdish opposition group said its base southwest of Erbil was targeted in a drone attack early Friday, adding that the extent of the damage remained unclear, according to security sources cited by Reuters and Kurdish outlet Rudaw.

The Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan is one of several Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, which Tehran regards as separatist movements, Rudaw reported.

The strike targeted the group's base in the Rizgari subdistrict, also known as Topzawa, in Khabat district, Erbil province.

Israeli army says it destroyed key sections of Hezbollah tunnel network in Beaufort Castle area

The Israeli army said it had destroyed several main routes of an underground tunnel network in the Shaqif Heights area, near Beaufort Castle, in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, Israeli army spokesperson Ella Waweya said that the 36th Division had “recently destroyed several main routes of the underground tunnel network in the Shaqif Heights area, in the Beaufort Castle region of southern Lebanon.” She said powerful explosions were heard overnight Thursday-Friday from the Israeli-occupied area and that “a large part of the tunnel network in the area was destroyed.”

“The network served as a central command complex from which fighting and fire against Israeli soldiers and Israeli citizens were directed,” Waweya said. She described it as a strategic infrastructure built over two decades, consisting of multiple levels, which served as the main headquarters of Hezbollah’s Badr Unit in southern Lebanon and was allegedly funded and planned by Iran.

She added that “this infrastructure posed a threat to residents of northern Israel and our forces, as it was located about six kilometers from Metula and the Galilee Panhandle,” from where, she said, dozens of drones, suicide drones and anti-tank missiles had been launched.

According to the statement, Israeli forces had in recent weeks strengthened their control over the Beaufort Heights area, including by taking control of underground infrastructure, clearing it and preparing it for destruction.

The Israeli army also said its forces were continuing operations in the Ali Taher Heights area while maintaining a high level of readiness for both defensive and offensive operations. “Any aggression against our forces will receive an appropriate response,” the statement said.

Cairo to host meeting on second phase of Gaza truce

Cairo will soon host a meeting of Gaza cease-fire mediators, including Egypt, the United States, Qatar and Turkey, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News reported early Friday.

The outlet, which is linked to Egyptian intelligence services overseeing Gaza negotiations, did not specify a date for the meeting but said talks would focus on implementing the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire plan, which includes Hamas’ disarmament. The roadmap has been accepted by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.

Israel carries out new attacks and demolitions in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army intensified its demolition operations and attacks across southern Lebanon overnight Thursday-Friday, according to our correspondent in the region.

After 10 p.m., Israeli forces carried out machine-gun fire toward Byout al-Siyad, Majdal Zoun and Mansouri in the Sour district. Israeli artillery also shelled the latter two areas.

Around midnight, a series of powerful explosions caused by the Israeli army shook several areas of southern Lebanon. Four explosions were reported in Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, while others targeted the outskirts of Arnoun, Yohmor in the Nabatieh district, and Deir Mimas in the Marjayoun district, near the Litani River.

Shortly afterward, the Shaqif area, home to Beaufort Castle, was rocked by a series of powerful explosions heard across much of southern Lebanon, including as far as Sidon and its surroundings. Residents said the blasts shook homes and caused panic, while thick clouds of smoke rose over the targeted areas.

Iran strikes Kuwait

Main development this morning:

Iran’s army said it launched drone strikes against U.S. military facilities in Kuwait as fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed after nearly a week of relative calm.

In a statement, the Iranian army said it targeted “fighter jet shelters, satellite communication systems and equipment storage facilities” at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had not immediately commented.

Iran said the strikes were carried out “in response to the recent aggression by the terrorist U.S. army against our country and its brutal attack on a residential building on Qeshm Island.”

Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East, where fighting between the United States and Iran, along with their respective allies, has continued following the resumption of hostilities earlier this week, ending several days of relative calm.

We will also be following developments in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army continues to occupy several hundred square kilometers along the border, ahead of a new round of Beirut-Tel Aviv negotiations scheduled to take place in Rome in the coming days.

You can catch up on yesterday's live coverage here and in our Morning Brief here.