Mansouri public school destroyed overnight by Israeli strikes; Ali Taher hill was targeted by artillery shells after demolitions | LIVE

Yemen: Houthis seize a key island in the Red Sea and control the Bab el-Mandeb area

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized a key island in the Red Sea and now control the Bab el-Mandeb area, a local official told AFP.

Araqchi, Munir discuss efforts to de-escalate U.S.-Iran war

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir discussed finding ways to restore diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Tehran's conflict with the U.S. on all fronts, a Pakistani security official told Reuters on Friday.

The two spoke by phone on Thursday and the conversation was focused on the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, the possibility of getting back to talks, and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the official said.

The Pakistani military did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

Blasting of Ali Taher: Villages in the Marjayoun district covered in dust and debris

The villages of the Marjayoun district have been covered in dust and debris since massive explosions carried out by the Israeli army the previous evening on the Ali Taher hill, located a few kilometers farther north, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Photos show vehicles covered in a thick layer of orange-colored dust.

Faced with this debris, some of which reached homes, residents of the few villages that remain inhabited despite the Israeli occupation have called on the South Lebanon Water Establishment to ensure a water supply so they can clean their homes and surrounding areas.

The villages that remain inhabited in the region are Deir Mimas, Bourj al-Mlouk, Qlayaa, Jdeidet Marjeyoun, Boueida, Debbine, Blat, and Ebel al-Saqi.

Mansouri, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and Hadatha targeted by Israeli army

Israeli forces carried out an explosion in Mansouri (Sour) and targeted the town with artillery shelling. Israeli artillery fire also targeted Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while an Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb over Hadatha (Bint Jbeil).

Rocks and soil block road from Kfar Tibnit to Khardali

Rocks and soil were scattered by the Ali al-Taher explosions, blocking the road from Kfar Tibnit to Khardali (Nabatieh), our correspondent in the south reported.

The Lebanese army does not usually use this road, as Kfar Tibnit is occupied by the Israeli army, our correspondent in the south reported. It generally takes the Kfar Roummane-Jarmak-Khardali route or the Kfar Roummane-Jarmak-Aishiyeh-Marjayoun route.

Ali Taher area before and after the massive explosions overnight

Ali Taher area before and after yesterday’s massive Israeli explosions on the area. (Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

Israeli artillery shells Beit Yahoun at dawn

This morning, Israeli artillery shelled the southern town of Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil) with four shells after 6 a.m.

Israeli military vehicles were also seen moving in Wadi Slouki , while Wadi al-Hujeir (Marjayoun) came under artillery fire in the early morning hours.

Extensive damage to Ali Taher area after massive Israeli explosions overnight

Observations by residents of Nabatieh showed clear changes to the landscape of the Ali Taher heights, the morning after the massive Israeli explosions on the area, with parts of the vegetation cover disappearing as a result of repeated explosions and shelling targeting the area in recent weeks.

Residents in the Marjayoun area also documented extensive destruction, particularly on the eastern side of the Ali Taher heights overlooking the Kfar Tibnit-Khardali road (Nabatieh), Marjayoun and Israeli settlements. The damage was extensive and clearly visible, with vegetation completely wiped out across large sections of the heights, stretching for an estimated two kilometers.

35 explosions in Mansouri Thursday

According to a tally of Israeli attacks recorded Thursday by L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the south, Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on five southern towns, while 18 towns came under artillery fire.

Israeli forces also carried out a series of explosions targeting homes, buildings and infrastructure in eight towns. Mansouri (Sour) recorded the highest number, with 35 explosions, followed by Bani Hayyan (Marjayoun) with 14.

Explosive bombs were also dropped on the two southern towns.

Overnight Israeli strikes hit towns across Sour, Nabatieh, Marjayoun, and Bint Jbeil districts

Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks across south Lebanon overnight, according to our correspondent in the south.

After 10:30 p.m., Israeli artillery shelled Mansouri (Sour), while an airstrike targeted Nabatieh al-Fawqa (Nabatieh). Israeli warplanes also struck Wadi Slouki toward Qantara (Marjayoun).

After 11:30 p.m., Israeli artillery shelled Wadi Slouki , while an explosion carried out by Israeli forces was reported in Srobbine, opposite Yater (Bint Jbeil).

Around midnight, Israeli forces conducted machine-gun fire toward Srobbine and Hadatha and shelled Wadi Zibqin (Bint Jbeil).

After 1 a.m., heavy and sustained Israeli artillery fire targeted the area between al-Dabsha and Ali Taher and also hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa (Nabatieh).

After 2 a.m., artillery fire and explosions were heard across several southern villages, targeting the outskirts of villages as well as valleys and hills. Israeli forces also blew up homes in Baraachit (Bint Jbeil).

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the situation in South Lebanon, the day after a large-scale blast carried out by the Israeli army on the Ali Taher ridge in the Nabatieh district, where it says it destroyed "Hezbollah tunnels".

We will also be following developments in Yemen, where Houthi rebels this morning captured a town near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as well as in Iran and the region.