Lebanon, Iran, Gaza: Israel remains on high alert over risk of escalation on multiple fronts, Zamir says
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the military remains “on high alert over the risk of escalation on multiple fronts,” noting that it is fighting “from Iran to Lebanon to Gaza.”
During a situation assessment, according to remarks reported by the Israeli army’s press service, Gen. Zamir said that “many challenges” remain. “We are conducting combat operations on all fronts, from Iran and Lebanon to Gaza, and we are maintaining a high level of alert over the risk of escalation on multiple fronts.”
He stressed that there would be no reduction in Israeli troop levels despite the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday (the Jewish New Year, which begins on Sept. 11), due to the “maximum state of alert.” Gen. Zamir also referred to the budget crisis currently facing the Israeli military, which he said is “undermining” its readiness.
South Lebanon: Fire breaks out in Bint Jbeil district after Israeli shelling; trucks carrying explosives arrive in Mais al-Jabal
A fire broke out between Kounin and Ainata, in the Bint Jbeil district, after the Israeli army fired a shell, according to our correspondent in the South. Meanwhile, tanks and bulldozers moved to the outskirts of Mais al-Jabal, where a truck loaded with explosives also arrived, apparently in preparation for demolition operations in the area. Shortly beforehand, artillery and machine-gun fire had targeted several homes in the village, and occupying forces had set buildings on fire.
In the Nabatieh district, artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Zawtar Sharqieh.
Greek-operated air defense system shoots down drones over Saudi Arabia
An air defense system operated by Greek troops in Saudi Arabia intercepted a swarm of drones in the Yanbu region, home to major oil refining facilities, several Greek security sources told Reuters.
“The battery engaged the drones in coordination with Saudi air defense systems,” one of the sources said, adding that the Greek-operated Patriot system fired three missiles. The source did not specify how many drones were shot down or where they came from. A second source confirmed the information.
It was the third time the Greek-operated system has been used in combat since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, highlighting the growing military role of European allies in protecting Gulf energy infrastructure.
Greece deployed a U.S.-made Patriot air defense battery to Saudi Arabia in 2021, operated by Greek personnel, under an agreement aimed at helping protect the kingdom’s energy facilities.
South Lebanon: Stun grenade dropped near Haniyeh, north of the occupied 'buffer zone'
An Israeli army drone dropped a stun grenade in the Ezzieh valley, on the outskirts of Haniyeh in the Sour district, according to our correspondent. Haniyeh is located about two kilometers northeast of Mansouri, and therefore beyond the “buffer zone” occupied by Israel in south Lebanon.
Meanwhile, artillery fire targeted the Hujeir valley, on the slope overlooking Ghandourieh in the Bint Jbeil district, also outside the buffer zone, as well as the outskirts of Qantara, an occupied village in the Marjayoun district.
Iran says US naval blockade is preventing gasoline imports
A U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports is preventing the country from importing gasoline, while domestic production is insufficient to meet demand, a senior Iranian official said Wednesday evening.
The strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons passed before the war, has been effectively sealed by Tehran since the conflict began in late February with Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran. The United States has in turn imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as part of its campaign against Tehran.
“Gasoline production is insufficient and, because of the U.S. naval blockade, we cannot import it,” said Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
On Tuesday, lines grew outside gas stations across Iran as the government announced a plan to make an unusually rare cut to gasoline quotas, which have been in place for years. In 2019, a sudden increase in gasoline prices sparked protests that spread to around 100 cities, including Tehran, leaving dozens dead.
Qatari prime minister expected in Tehran to pursue mediation efforts
At the regional level, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is expected to travel to Tehran today in an effort to revive diplomatic efforts, following renewed tensions between the United States and Iran over Washington’s push to increase economic pressure on Tehran by sanctioning its trading partners.
A neighbor of Iran in the Gulf and a U.S. ally, Qatar has played the role of intermediary between the parties to the conflict and directly contributed to the conclusion of the June cease-fire, which briefly brought a halt to hostilities.
The visit comes as the war approaches its sixth month. Fighting has largely subsided, but no major diplomatic breakthrough is in sight. The two sides remain particularly at odds over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil supplies that Tehran is using as leverage.
Israeli army continues attacks on Mansouri and the area north of Bint Jbeil; family evacuated from Haris
In addition to these attacks, the Israeli army continued its advances and fire throughout the night along two other axes: Mansouri, on the coast south of Sour, and the central sector, targeting several villages north of Bint Jbeil along the “Yellow Line” that marks the buffer zone. Along the first axis, it notably blew up houses between Mansouri and Byout al-Siyad, dropped explosive charges and carried out an airstrike.
In the Bint Jbeil area, it fired automatic weapons at Aita al-Jabal, blew up and set fire to homes in Haddatha, and shelled the outskirts of Braasheet and Beit Yahoun.
In Haris, a town north of Haddatha on the edge of the “Yellow Line,” where troop movements and artillery attacks have been reported repeatedly in recent days, rescuers from the Scouts of the Islamic Mission Association (Al-Rissala, affiliated with the Amal Movement) managed to evacuate a family that was still inside a house surrounded by Israeli forces.
South Lebanon: Israeli tanks advance toward Kfar Shuba, a village that is still inhabited in the eastern sector
In south Lebanon, two Israeli army Merkava tanks and several military vehicles advanced to the outskirts of Kfar Shuba, in the eastern sector, where soldiers raised an Israeli flag at a site known as Shamis and opened automatic fire, according to our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah. Kfar Shuba is a predominantly Sunni village that has remained inhabited in recent months despite the Israeli occupation of the “buffer zone” along the border.
Airstrikes with highly explosive missiles hit Ali Taher heights
About 15 kilometers farther west, the Israeli air force carried out several powerful airstrikes Thursday morning on the Ali Taher heights, in the Nabatieh district. The ridge has been at the center of Israeli attacks for several weeks, as Tel Aviv accuses Hezbollah of having fighters holed up there in an underground base. According to our correspondent, two highly explosive missiles were dropped on the strategic heights, shaking the doors of homes in Kfar Roummane and Nabatieh. Artillery fire also targeted the outskirts of Mayfadoun, another village in the Nabatieh district. It had already been targeted in an airstrike overnight.
Also overnight, white phosphorus artillery fire targeted Doha Kfar Roummane, below Ali Taher.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon, particularly in the South, where the Israeli army continued its systematic demolition of homes and infrastructure in villages within the occupied “buffer zone” and appears to be seeking to advance toward several neighboring localities.
We will also follow developments concerning Iran, particularly discussions over the Strait of Hormuz, which lies at the heart of the tensions.
You can catch up on yesterday's news in our Morning Brief here.
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