Zamir says Israel will not allow ‘hostile forces’ to establish a foothold along border during visit to troops in occupied south Syria | LIVE

Israeli airstrike hits Mansouri, artillery shells Srebbine

Israeli aircraft carried out an airstrike on Mansouri in the Sour district early Wednesday evening, while artillery fire targeted Srebbine in the Bint Jbeil district, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

Mossad chief, Syrian foreign minister discussed Turkish military presence in Syria

Mossad chief Roman Gofman held a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani on Aug. 14, during which they discussed Turkey’s military presence in Syria, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The call came days before Israel carried out airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria, which Israel said was linked to concerns over a possible Turkish deployment there.

The conversation marks one of the highest-level contacts between Israel and Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, according to Reuters.

Ghalibaf accuses US of seeking to 'plunder and loot' Gulf states

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of moving closer to Gulf states to “plunder and loot their resources,” according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

Speaking during a meeting with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi, Ghalibaf also accused Washington of fueling regional insecurity rather than providing protection.

Referring to the “third imposed war,” he said Iran and Iraq had come to see the United States as “the biggest problem and the main cause of all the region’s difficulties.”

Ghalibaf said U.S. policies and Israeli actions had fueled recent wars and that Iran and Iraq had suffered heavily as a result.

He called for greater unity among Islamic and Gulf countries, saying Iran and Iraq could play an important role in achieving regional security without foreign interference.

“The Americans were defeated militarily and politically in the third imposed war, failed to achieve any of their objectives and are now in a state of desperation,” he said.

US agencies warn of hacking attempts targeting Siemens systems

Several U.S. government agencies warned Wednesday of an “active threat” targeting Siemens S7 programmable controllers used across critical infrastructure, including water, energy and manufacturing, Reuters reports.

The warning comes amid a series of cyberattacks targeting water systems in several states that experts suspect are linked to Iran.

The agencies said successful attacks could disrupt critical processes, damage equipment, compromise sensitive data or cause safety incidents.

The advisory also warned that hackers are using artificial intelligence to reduce the time and expertise needed to develop attacks against the systems.

Israeli army chief says he will not tolerate threats on Syrian border

Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said Israel would not allow any “hostile force to establish itself” along its border with Syria.

His comments came a day after Israel bombed a Syrian air base. Zamir made the remarks during a visit to Israeli troops stationed in southern Syria.

“We are monitoring developments on the Syrian front. We will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along our borders and will know how to use our operational capabilities precisely, where and when necessary,” Zamir said.

Israeli army demolishes and sets fire to homes in Mansouri, fires artillery

The Israeli army demolished homes in the Mashha area of Mansouri, south of Sour, and set fire to others in another part of the town, the state-run National News Agency reported. Israeli forces also fired artillery at the area.

Israeli army carries out new demolitions in Zawtar Sharqieh

The Israeli army carried out new demolitions in Zawtar Sharqieh, in the Nabatieh district, near the town’s mosque and around the cemetery, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Israel’s war on Lebanon has killed 4,348 and injured 12,307 since March 2

Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon has killed 4,348 people and injured 12,307 since March 2, according to the health ministry’s latest toll covering the period through Aug. 19.

Device explosion kills 2, injures 2 in Mayfadoun

Two young men, Ali Mortada Hassan Said, from Qsaybeh, and Ali Abbas Rayhan, a resident of Adsheet, were killed and two others injured in the explosion of several devices placed by Israeli forces near an earth embankment between Mayfadoun and Zawtar Sharqieh, the state-run National News Agency reported, revising an earlier death toll.

The four young men were riding in a tuk-tuk near a motorcycle when the explosion occurred as they were touring the area.

Civil Defense teams, along with the Islamic Mission Scouts and Islamic Health Council, transported the two bodies and the injured to hospitals in Nabatieh.

Strikes reported in Marjayoun district

The Israeli army carried out powerful explosions in the villages of Tallouseh, Bani Hayyan and Houla in the Marjayoun district, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

'What the South is going through is unbearable and may have surpassed Gaza,' says Berri

The Speaker of Parliament and leader of Amal, Nabih Berri, drew a parallel between the “unbearable” situation in southern Lebanon and Israel’s destructive war on Gaza, speaking before a delegation from the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL). “What the South is enduring is unbearable and may have surpassed what has happened and is happening in Gaza in terms of crimes and massacres against people, buildings, and heritage, as well as the killing of civilians, in violation of the most basic international and humanitarian laws, conventions, and standards,” he said, in remarks reported by his office.

In line with the views of President Joseph Aoun, the Speaker of Parliament stated that “the United States is the only country, and its President Donald Trump the only president, capable of compelling Israel to end its war, declare a cease-fire and withdraw to the international border in the South.”

“At that point,” said Hezbollah’s key political ally, “I guarantee the immediate deployment of the Lebanese Army in the region south of the Litani River, as well as the fact that the Lebanese army will be the sole force responsible for ensuring security there and the only one to possess weapons in the area.” He added that the inhabitants of this region “have the right to return and rebuild it” and that they “aspire to see the Lebanese army ensure their security and stability."

“We have found that Berri is very keen to see progress on the pilot zones and that he personally wants to see these pilot zones succeed,” said the President of the ATFL, the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel. “President Trump is working very hard to urge the Israelis to put an end to the deaths and destruction… We expect him to continue working with the Israelis to make them understand that, if they want peace, this is not the way to achieve it,” said Gabriel.

South Lebanon: At least 1 person killed following the explosion of a ‘suspicious object’ in Mayfadoun, according to the Civil Defence

The explosion of a "suspicious object" on a tuk-tuk-style vehicle in the village of Mayfadoun (Nabatieh), killed one person and injured three others, according to a statement from the Civil Defense. Rescue workers from the Lebanese Civil Defense transported the victim’s body and one of the injured, whilst the Islamic Health Committee transported the other two injured to hospital.

According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), the suspicious object is a “remnant of an Israeli attack.” The NNA, for its part, reports two fatalities.

Iraq asks Iran for special treatment for Iraqi oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz

The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Haibat al-Halboussi, who has held the post since last December, has asked his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, for special treatment to be granted to Iraq regarding its oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by the Iraqi National News Agency (INA). Haïbat al-Halboussi highlighted the fact that “Iraq is among the countries most affected by the situation and developments in the region” to support his request.

He also “stressed on Wednesday to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the importance of reviving the friendship groups and strengthening parliamentary diplomacy between Iraq and Iran”. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, for his part, affirmed “his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly in the commercial and economic sectors.”

The two men met in Baghdad, where Ghalibaf began a visit during which he also met the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, at a time when Iraq is facing pressure from Washington to disarm powerful Iranian-backed armed factions, which have gained considerable political and financial influence in the country over the years.

Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following the war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran have significantly affected Iraq’s ability to export its oil, forcing the Iraqi authorities to open a land-based export route to the Mediterranean via Syria.

Bennett vows to strike Iran if Hezbollah attacks Israel

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who held office from 2021 to 2022, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s current rival in the upcoming general election — scheduled for October in Israel – stated on Wednesday that the government he would lead in the event of a victory would launch strikes against Iran if Hezbollah were to attack Israel, as part of what he described as a broader overhaul of the country’s security policy, according to several Israeli media outlets, including Ynet and Haaretz.

'The greatest challenge will be reconstruction, following Israel’s withdrawal' from southern Lebanon, says Aoun

President Joseph Aoun has stated that “the greatest challenge will be reconstruction, following Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied towns and villages and the deployment of the army up to the border,” according to a post on X by the Lebanese Presidency.

The Israeli army occupies nearly 700 km² in southern Lebanon and is making its withdrawal conditional on Hezbollah being disarmed by the Lebanese Army.

“We have put Lebanon back on the world map and we will continue our efforts to rebuild the state, alongside our efforts to bring an end to the current situation in the South,” Aoun added. He made these remarks before a delegation from the National Council for Scientific Research (CRNS).

South Lebanon: Israel continues its attacks and blows up a house in Khiam

Israel is continuing its attacks across southern Lebanon, within the vast area under its control, firing four shells at Khiam (Marjayoun), where it blew up a house, according to the National News Agency (NNA). It also launched a bomb on Mansouri (Sour), causing a fire in the targeted area. And Israeli forces fired machine-gun rounds towards Haddatha (Bint Jbeil).

NATO says it is ready to confront any Iranian threat

NATO is ready to confront any threat and will always do whatever is necessary to defend all its allies, a NATO official said on Wednesday, when asked about a Financial Times article claiming that Iran had considered attacking U.S. military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war.

“As demonstrated earlier this year, when NATO’s air defenses successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles heading for Turkey on four occasions, our deterrence and defense capabilities are robust and effective,” the official said.

Macron invites Lebanon to preparatory meeting in Paris ahead of international conference in support of Lebanese Army

President Joseph Aoun received a letter from the French chargé d’affaires in Lebanon, Bruno da Silva, a letter from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron inviting Lebanon to take part in a preparatory meeting, to be held in Paris on Sept. 17, for the international conference in support of the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF), with the participation of military delegations and experts from several countries, according to a post on X by the Lebanese Presidency.

In June, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had stated that he had agreed with Macron to work towards organizing this conference, the date of which has not yet been set. A much-anticipated international conference in support of the Lebanese Army was due to take place in Paris on March 5, before the outbreak of war against Iran on Feb. 28 – and in Lebanon on March 2 – led to its indefinite postponement.

Israel fires artillery rounds in Mais al-Jabal, causing a fire

The Israeli army fired artillery rounds at a house on the western outskirts of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), according to local media. Intense machine-gun fire subsequently caused a fire in the area.

Located less than a kilometer from the border, the village has been the target for several months of a widespread demolition campaign carried out by the Israeli army. Many of the buildings in the village had been repaired by residents following the war between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which lasted from October 2023 to November 2024.

Joumblatt receives a delegation from the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL)

The Druze leader and former head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Joumblatt, welcomed a delegation from the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) at his home on Rue Clémenceau in Beirut. The delegation was led by its chairman and former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel. “The situation in Lebanon and the region was discussed during the meeting,” reports the National News Agency (NNA).

The day before, the delegation had met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, Rodolph Haykal. According to its website, the ATFL is a non-profit organization comprising “eminent American figures of Lebanese origin,” whose mission is to raise awareness of the importance of a “strong bilateral relationship” between the United States and Lebanon.

Trump says no talks planned with Iran, Tehran says Strait of Hormuz still shut

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no talks were taking place with Iran and insisted the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting Iran's assertion that the critical waterway remained shut to shipping. 

A temporary cease-fire agreement expired on Monday, and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that his country was moving to a "fully offensive" military posture due to the diplomatic stalemate, though there were no reports of fresh strikes by either side on Tuesday.

"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated," he added.

On Monday, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, said talks with Iran were still under way and were "probably more robust" than they had ever been.

Iran denies firing missiles at UAE on Tuesday

Iran denied UAE's claims that it had launched two ballistic missiles at shipping in the Gulf on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei "categorically rejected the United Arab Emirates' claim that Iran had launched a missile toward that country," calling it harmful to regional trust and security efforts.

Israeli strike destroys house in Nabatieh Fawqa overnight

An Israeli airstrike destroyed a house belonging to the Hajj Ali family in al-Deir neighborhood, in Nabatieh Fawqa, overnight, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Wednesday morning.

South Lebanon: Israel continues overnight attacks on Ali Taher and Mansouri, as well as demolition operations

Israel continued overnight attacks on the hills of Ali Taher in Nabatieh, which it is reportedly seeking to occupy, as well as the village of Mansouri in the Sour district, divided by its “yellow line.”

Around 1 a.m., Israel carried out a series of air strikes on the Ali Taher heights and the outskirts of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh district), as well as the outskirts of Deir Siryan (Marjayoun district), according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

The Israeli army also continued its demolition operations in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil district) and Mansouri, the NNA reported. It also fired several shells at Majdal Zoun (Sour district) and the surrounding valleys.

Flares were also launched overnight over the Sour and Bint Jbeil areas. Israeli artillery fire also targeted the outskirts of the Zibqine valley (Sour district).

UAE halts all trade, financial dealings with Iran

The United Arab Emirates has said it is suspending all trade and financial dealings with Iran after reporting an Iranian missile attack directed at its ships.

The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the UAE, with no Iranian missiles aimed at the country since May, after it bore the brunt of attacks in the early weeks of the Middle East war.

Abu Dhabi has accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting its tankers at sea in recent weeks.

Yesterday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the war and shut Iran-linked schools and a hospital.

At the height of the war in March, authorities ordered the closure of an Iranian state-linked hospital in Dubai, three employees at the facility told AFP, with schools and a community centre also ordered closed.

Iran's armed forces warn Gulf countries against assisting US military

Iran's armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against assisting the U.S. military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations.

"It seems unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refuelling aircraft, could be present at regional bases without knowledge of host countries," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

The warning comes as the USS George Washington aircraft carrier is being redeployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln following reports of deteriorating living conditions for its crew. 

Good morning, and thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the events in the region, two days after the 60-day, 14-point memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States expired.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Iran were currently taking place, while Tehran said its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained in effect.

Catch up on our Morning Brief here.