Israeli army carries out strikes on wooded hills of Ali Taher, Dohat Kfar Roummane | LIVE

Iran's Supreme Leader bans acts that 'harm social cohesion'

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he had banned people from "committing anything that harms social cohesion" and urged authorities to avoid any “discouraging statements that weaken national and public motivation," in a written statement published on Friday.

Pezeshkian: Iran ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and UAE

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday that Iran was ready to “cooperate” and reach an “understanding” with countries in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as Tehran remains under heavy U.S. economic pressure.

Speaking about the impact of that pressure on Iran’s economy, Pezeshkian said the country’s exports and imports had declined by as much as 35% due to sanctions and the blockade imposed by the United States.

The Iranian president also said that Tehran had sold around 90 million barrels of oil during the period in which the interim agreement was in effect.

Series of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike targeted the area between Wadi Slouqi and Wadi Hujeir, near Beni Hayan (Marjayoun), while Israeli fighter jets and a drone flew over southern Lebanon.

Shortly afterward, the Israeli Air Force carried out several more strikes, targeting Nabatieh Fawqa, Mansouri (Sour), and the area between Haddatha and Haris (Bint Jbeil).

New Israeli demolitions in Houla, Qantara and Deir Siryane

Another Israeli airstrike targeted the wooded area of Ali Taher, near Nabatieh Fawqa. An Israeli drone also dropped a stun grenade on Mansouri (Sour), while machine-gun fire targeted Haddatha (Bint Jbeil).

The Israeli army also carried out several demolition operations, destroying several homes in Houla, as well as in Qantara and, on two occasions, in Deir Siryane (Marjayoun).

Israeli army bombs wooded hills of Ali Taher and Dohat Kfar Roummane

An Israeli airstrike targeted the wooded area of Ali Taher, near Nabatieh Fawqa, while artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Haris (Bint Jbeil) and Mansouri (Sour). Another airstrike targeted Dohat Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh). Movements of Israeli military vehicles were also observed in Rashaf (Bint Jbeil).

Rodolph Haykal invited to preparatory meeting for international conference in support of Lebanese Army in Paris

Lebanese Army Commander-in-Chief Rodolph Haykal received Bruno Pereira Da Silva, chargé d’affaires at the French Embassy in Lebanon, at his office in Yarze, the army said in a post on X.

Da Silva handed Gen. Haykal an official invitation to attend the preparatory meeting for the international conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces (ISF), which is to be held in Paris with the participation of military delegations and experts from several countries.

The Lebanese presidency said in mid-August that the preparatory meeting would be held in Paris on Sept. 17, with the participation of chiefs of staff from several countries, as well as experts and representatives of governments and international organizations.

UNIFIL records more than 1,000 projectile trajectories in southern Lebanon in one week

Despite a level of violence that is “lower” than at the beginning of the year, the situation in southern Lebanon remains “fragile,” the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said. Between Aug. 21 and 27, peacekeepers recorded 1,030 projectile trajectories, an average of 147 per day.

Israeli attacks have killed 4,352 and wounded 12,318 since March 2, Health Ministry says

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said in its latest toll that Israeli attacks between March 2 and Aug. 28 have killed 4,352 people and wounded 12,318. On Thursday, the Israeli army bombed the village of Arab Salim, in the northern part of the Nabatieh district and outside the area occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon, killing one woman and wounding six people.

Israeli army says it targeted 'several terrorists' in rare West Bank strikes

The Israeli army said it had targeted “several terrorists” in the Jenin area of the northern occupied West Bank, in rare strikes on the Palestinian territory.

“Moments ago, the IDF [Israeli army] conducted a targeted strike against several terrorists in the Jenin area. Further details will follow,” the army said in a brief statement.

New Israeli demolitions in Markaba and Arnoun, explosives placed inside homes in Houla

Israeli artillery fire targeted Dohat Kfar Roummane, while the Israeli army carried out new demolition operations in Markaba (Marjayoun), toward Robb al-Thalathin, as well as in Arnoun (Nabatieh). In Houla (Marjayoun), Israeli soldiers were also seen placing containers of explosives inside homes.

Finland ends multi-year funding agreement with UNRWA

Finland will end its multi-year funding agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio announced Friday.

Tavio said Finland would continue funding the Palestinian territories through other channels, but that the level of funding would not remain the same. He said the agreement with UNRWA was signed under the previous Social Democratic-led government and that he had not approved an extension.

Israel’s foreign ministry welcomed the decision, saying: “It is good to see more countries recognizing the undeniable truth in light of the conclusive evidence of UNRWA employees’ involvement in the Oct. 7 massacre and UNRWA’s inseparable links to Hamas.”

Israeli army causes large explosion in Tallousseh, Marjayoun

Israeli forces carried out a large demolition operation in the Marjayoun area, in Tallousseh, around 3 p.m., according to our correspondent. An Israeli army force had earlier set fire to an area near the village of Aita al-Jabal in Nabatieh.

Shortly afterward, Israeli artillery fire hit the outskirts of Kfar Roummane in Nabatieh.

Shortly before 2 p.m., Israeli fire targeted Houla in Marjayoun, while Mansouri in Sour came under fire around 12:30 p.m.

Around 3 p.m., the Israeli army also demolished a house in Robb Thalatin, Marjayoun.

US has significantly weakened Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz, officials tell Axios

The U.S. military has significantly weakened Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz in recent months, according to U.S. officials cited by Axios, potentially giving Washington greater leverage in negotiations with Tehran.

What began as a campaign to weaken Iran’s missile capabilities and nuclear program has evolved into a prolonged fight over the world’s key energy chokepoint.

“That sucker is open. The Iranian response is very mild. They don’t want us to go back at them. That’s the whole ball game. The rest doesn’t matter,” President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday.

Two regional sources said Iran has shown renewed interest in negotiations in recent days, with the Pakistani army chief, Oman’s foreign minister and Qatar’s prime minister all visiting Tehran to discuss mediation and the strait.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem to speak tonight at religious event

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem will speak tonight at 8:30 p.m. during a central religious gathering marking the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Mohammad.

Aoun meets Haykal to discuss security situation in south Lebanon

President Joseph Aoun met with Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal at Baabda Palace to discuss the security situation across the country, particularly in south Lebanon, where Israel continues its attacks and demolitions in occupied villages and localities.

Haykal also briefed Aoun on the results of his visit to Italy and his meetings with Italian officials from Aug. 24 to 26. Aoun himself visited Italy a week earlier.

Hijacked Iran-linked oil tanker not registered in Eritrea, government says

A U.S.-sanctioned oil tanker that was hijacked last week by suspected pirates off the coast of Yemen and diverted toward Somalia is not registered in Eritrea despite flying the country's flag, Eritrea's government said.

The Sibu 1, which the U.S. Treasury sanctioned last December for allegedly being part of a shadow fleet that helps Iranian petroleum products evade U.S. sanctions, has no affiliation with Eritrea, Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel told Reuters.

The ship is widely listed by ship-tracking websites as sailing under an Eritrean flag, but a database run by the United Nations' International Maritime Organization states its current flag status as "Eritrea False", suggesting its registration is not recognized as valid. It was last seen on Monday about 6 km (3.7 miles) off the coast of northeastern Somalia, according to ship-tracking data.

Araghchi says restoring diplomacy to the 'right track' is 'not impossible'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that “restoring the diplomatic process [with the United States] to the right track is not impossible.”

In a post on X, accompanied by a photo of him receiving Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during his visit to Tehran on Thursday, Araghchi added: “It depends on the United States understanding one simple fact: pressure does not work. The United States must build trust, engage with us respectfully, recognize our rights and honor its commitments.”

Iranian security chief denies reports of plot targeting Trump’s son

Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Thursday that reports of a plot to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump’s youngest son were false, in an interview broadcast by Lebanese TV channel Al-Manar.

The U.S. Secret Service said Tuesday it was aware of a video aired by Iranian state television alleging a possible plot to assassinate Barron Trump, the president’s youngest son.

Maritime traffic through Strait of Hormuz falls below 10-day average

Seven cargo vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, down from 17 the previous day and below the 10-day average of 15, according to preliminary maritime data published Friday and cited by Reuters.

The vessels included two medium-range tankers, a very large gas carrier (VLGC), an Ultramax vessel, a medium-sized tanker and two chemical tankers, according to initial data from maritime tracking service Kpler recorded at 3:15 a.m. GMT (6:15 a.m. Beirut time).

Four of the vessels were leaving the strait, while three were entering. The figures could change as some ships routinely switch off their transponders during voyages.

Israeli forces shell area in Damascus outskirts

In Syria, Israeli forces fired two shells at an area between Beit Jinn and Tilal al-Homr in the western Damascus countryside, according to a correspondent for Syria’s SANA news agency.

The shells targeted Bat al-Warda hill near Beit Jinn and landed in agricultural fields, causing no casualties.

On Aug. 18, Israeli forces also shelled the Yarmouk basin in western Daraa province. The projectile was fired toward a valley west of Abidine, causing no casualties or material damage.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Israeli troops stationed in southern Syria on Tuesday, reiterating Israel’s determination to maintain forces there as long as “threats” to its security remain.

Massive explosion rocks Sour area as Israeli troops move toward Wadi Slouqi

A massive explosion caused by the Israeli military rocked the Mansouri area in the Sour district at dawn, with the blast shaking buildings across the district, our correspondent reports. Another explosion was heard in the same area around 1 a.m.

At around 7 a.m., Israeli military vehicles advanced toward Houla in the Marjayoun district, heading toward Wadi Slouqi. The movement was accompanied by artillery fire and machine-gun fire in the area.

The night was also marked by Israeli attacks across south Lebanon. Around 10 p.m., artillery fire targeted the strategic Ali Taher hill and Dohat Kfar Roummane in Nabatieh. Shortly after midnight, powerful explosions shook Aita al-Shaab and Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, followed by another explosion in Zawtar Sharqieh in Nabatieh.

Helicopters conducted operations over Qantara and Wadi Slouqi in Marjayoun, while Wadi Houjeir in Bint Jbeil was hit by artillery fire around 1 a.m.

The previous day, Israeli warplanes carried out raids on eight villages, while drones struck three localities and artillery fire hit 14 others. The Israeli army also continued demolishing homes and infrastructure in four southern villages, while its helicopters dropped explosive barrels over six others. Israeli troop movements were also reported in four localities.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon, particularly the south, where the Israeli army continues its systematic demolition of homes and infrastructure in villages within the occupied “buffer zone” and appears to be seeking to advance toward several nearby localities.

We will also follow developments concerning Iran, particularly discussions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which remains at the heart of tensions.