Search
Search

Armored vehicles belonging to the Lebanese Army enter Zawtar Gharbieh on July 21, 2026. (Credit: Fadel Itani/AFP)

Live LIVE

Israel sets fire to Mais al-Jabal hospital: Health Ministry denounces ‘moral failure’ | LIVE

What you need to know

Israeli forces advanced towards a Lebanese Army post near Deir Mimas, a village in the Israeli-occupied eastern sector of southern Lebanon, before later retreating.

Israel continues its attacks across southern Lebanon, particularly on the village of Mansouri where it fired from a combat helicopter.

Several Israeli strikes were carried out overnight on the Marjayoun district.

Washington has approved the sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid intensified fighting in Yemen

21:43 Beirut Time

New demolitions and shelling in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army carried out a demolition in Mansouri (Sour district), which it then shelled twice. Artillery fire also targeted the town of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) from the Mayfadoun side, according to our correspondent.

21:42 Beirut Time

Deir Mimas incident: Lebanese Army says it is in contact with Military Coordination Group

The Lebanese Army issued a statement Friday evening about the incident in Deir Mimas, where it confronted the Israeli army earlier in the day.

The army said it had established “a temporary observation post on the outskirts of the town on Sept. 10, 2026, in coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), to help residents inspect their agricultural land.”

It added that “an Israeli force approached the newly established post in the so-called security zone [on Friday] and launched stun grenades. As a result, the army reinforced the post and both sides mobilized.”

“Following communications facilitated by the MCG4L, the Israeli occupying force withdrew from the area and the military personnel returned to their main base in the town,” the statement said. “Follow-up is ongoing in coordination with the MCG4L.”

21:08 Beirut Time

Salam speaks with Berri before US trip

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke by phone Friday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before departing for the United States, according to a statement from the Grand Serail.

The two discussed the latest developments, particularly in southern Lebanon, as well as the issues Salam is expected to address during meetings in New York and Washington.

20:48 Beirut Time

Mais al-Jabal hospital fire: Health Ministry denounces ‘moral failure’

The Health Ministry condemned the Israeli arson attack on the Mais al-Jabal hospital in a statement, saying that “targeting medical institutions and health care workers constitutes a full-fledged war crime and a blatant violation of international agreements.” It also called on the international community, the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to denounce the act, which it said “is evidence of a moral failure.”

“Not content with occupying it and turning it into a military barracks, the occupying forces have now completely set fire to the hospital, depriving the people of southern Lebanon of access to medical care,” the ministry said, adding that it had renovated and equipped the facility after the last war.

18:52 Beirut Time

Israeli army sets fire to Mais al-Jabal government hospital and surroundings

Israeli army sets fire to Mais al-Jabal government hospital and surroundings

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

The Israeli army set fire to the government hospital in Mais al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil) and its surroundings, our correspondent in the South reported.

It also carried out a demolition in Bayyada (Sour district).

18:27 Beirut Time

Israeli artillery fire targets Haris, Qantara, explosion in Ainata

Israeli artillery fire targeted the Arish area on the outskirts of Haris (Bint Jbeil.) Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in Ainata (Bint Jbeil.) Additionally, Israeli phosphorus shells targeted Qantara (Marjayoun).


17:24 Beirut Time

Houthis: EU raises alert level of Red Sea naval mission

The European Union has raised the alert level of its naval mission protecting maritime traffic in the Red Sea amid a Houthi offensive in the region.

"Given the deterioration of the security situation, the European operation Aspides has raised the alert level of its ships while continuing its escort missions," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X.

"Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia are unacceptable and undermine the global economy," she said, adding that she had spoken with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.

The EU had already condemned the Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi territory on Thursday, expressing its "full solidarity" with Riyadh.

The Aspides mission, which comprises three military vessels, was launched in 2024 to protect commercial ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

16:56 Beirut Time

Israeli artillery fire targets southern towns

Israeli artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh), Mansouri (Sour), and the outskirts of Qasr and Wadi Hujeir (Marjayoun).

14:05 Beirut Time

Israeli forces withdraw from outskirts of Deir Mimas, residents say

Israeli forces have withdrawn from the area they advanced into on the outskirts of Deir Mimas, where a Lebanese Army position had been established, according to residents.

The Israeli forces have returned to their position at Tall al-Nahas, while the Lebanese Army remains stationed along the main Burj al-Muluk road.

13:55 Beirut Time

Lebanese Army withdraws from Deir Mimas outskirts as Israeli forces search nearby homes

The Lebanese Army has withdrawn from the outskirts of Deir Mimas (Marjayoun) and repositioned along the main Burj al-Muluk road, while Israeli forces are searching several homes around the position where the Lebanese Army had been stationed, according to sources in the town cited by L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the south.

The Lebanese Army had established the position for the first time Friday morning on the internal road leading from Markaz Station to the entrance of Deir Mimas, at the Kfar Tibnit–Deir Mimas–Burj al-Muluk intersection.

According to the sources, the move had not been coordinated in advance with Israel. Israeli forces objected to the establishment of the position and demanded that it be evacuated as Israeli military vehicles advanced toward it.

The Lebanese Army subsequently withdrew from the position, while Israeli forces fired stun grenades toward the area after the soldiers moved back.

The Lebanese army did not respond to L’Orient Today’s request for comment on the matter. Residents said Deir Mimas had appeared like a “besieged town” in recent hours, with Israeli forces present at its main entrance amid heightened tensions in the area. The sources said contacts have begun to address the dispute and prevent it from escalating.

13:15 Beirut Time

Israeli artillery shelling in Shaqra injures 3 people

Israeli artillery fire targeted the Wadi Nahla area on the outskirts of Shaqra (Bint Jbeil), injuring three civilians, one of whom sustained critical injuries and was taken to hospital, our correspondent in the south reported.

Artillery shelling also targeted the Ali Taher heights and the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh). Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the town of Mais al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil).

12:16 Beirut Time

Petrol prices shoot up in war-hit Lebanon

In Lebanon, the price of 20 liters of petrol has increased by LL92,000 ($1), and diesel by LL127,000 ($1.4) as inflation worsens in the country, the country’s National News Agency (NNA) reports.

Israel’s war on Lebanon and the U.S.-Israel war on Iran have damaged Lebanon’s economy. Prices are rising because of supply issues, particularly oil from the Gulf region, which has largely stopped since the U.S. and Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz.

The World Bank projected Lebanon’s economy will shrink by 6.4% this year as conflict turns a brief post-crisis recovery into a sharp downturn.

12:12 Beirut Time

Lebanese Army returns to position on Deir Mimas road after Israeli retreat

According to witnesses in Deir Mimas (Marjayoun), cited by our correspondent, the Lebanese Army has returned to its position on the road to Deir Mimas, from which it had retreated about 50 meters as an Israeli force advanced.

As the Lebanese soldiers returned to the checkpoint with two Humvee vehicles, Israeli forces fired stun grenades at them.

The incident comes as residents remain holed up in their homes, unable to enter or leave the town.

11:44 Beirut Time

South Lebanon: Tensions between Lebanese and Israeli soldiers near still-inhabited village of Deir Mimas

Israeli soldiers this morning took control of a post that had recently been set up by the Lebanese Army near Deir Mimas, a village in southern Lebanon that is still inhabited, in the occupied "buffer zone," following an advance that sparked tensions between Lebanese and Israeli soldiers, reports our correspondent in the region.

According to available information, Israeli vehicles advanced towards the northern outskirts of this village in the Marjayoun district and forced the Lebanese soldiers present at the scene to retreat a short distance.

Reinforcements from the Lebanese Army arrived at the scene and attempted to redeploy. These movements were met with insults from the Israeli soldiers.

According to local sources, residents regularly see Israeli forces advancing to the outskirts of Deir Mimas, though they do not remain there for long.

These tensions arose the day after a meeting in Paris aimed at mobilizing aid from the international community to support the Lebanese Army, which is due to deploy to southern Lebanon and work to disarm Hezbollah there.

11:43 Beirut Time

Tensions in Deir Mimas: Israelis fire stun grenades at Lebanese soldiers

Israeli forces are firing stun grenades at Lebanese Army soldiers deployed on the outskirts of Deir Mimas (Marjayoun, eastern sector) in order to force them to retreat, according to information from our correspondent in the South.

10:08 Beirut Time

Iran claims strike on oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that they had struck a Togolese-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA.

“The oil tanker ‘Trend’, flying the Togolese flag, was targeted and intercepted after a fire broke out on board,” the statement said, referring to an attempt to “illegally pass” through the strait.

On Thursday evening, the UK Maritime Security Agency (UKMTO) had reported a “security incident in the Strait of Hormuz, 16 nautical miles (29.5 km) north-east of Khasab, Oman.”

However, the UKMTO had not provided any details about the vessel in question, and it is not known whether this is the same vessel referred to by the IRGC.

10:06 Beirut Time

US clears way for $24.3 billion fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department on Thursday approved the potential sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets manufactured by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, in a deal estimated at $24.3 billion, as the kingdom becomes increasingly involved in the Middle East war.

A sale would mark a significant policy shift from the U.S., potentially altering the balance of military power in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining its ally Israel's "qualitative military edge."

Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal for the jets in early 2025 to U.S. President Donald Trump and has long been interested in Lockheed Martin's fighter.

The estimated $24.3 billion sale, which still needs congressional approval, would include 48 of the military aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines along with communications equipment, spare parts and other support items, the State Department said.

Read more here.

10:06 Beirut Time

Israeli gunfire causes a fire in a house in Hadatha

Also this morning, an Israeli military drone dropped a stun grenade on the Sousseh area, on the outskirts of Haris (Bint Jbeil) where several artillery shells also struck the area, situated right on the edge of the so-called "Yellow Line."

A military force comprising eight military vehicles also advanced into the area, frightening residents who were on the outskirts of the village, before withdrawing.

In Hadatha, intense artillery fire struck several homes, causing a fire in one of them.

During the night, Israeli forces carried out a powerful demolition on the outskirts of Kounin and Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil.)

10:04 Beirut Time

Israel continues attacks on Mansouri

On Friday morning, the Israeli army carried out a major demolition in Mansouri, a coastal village in the district of Sour, where occupying forces have been conducting operations of this kind almost daily in recent weeks.

The village, split in two by the so-called "Yellow Line" which marks the boundaries of the areas occupied by Israel in the south – had already been targeted during the night by sustained artillery fire.

After midnight, an Israeli Apache helicopter carried out sweeping fire on the village, audible as far as neighboring towns, whilst dozens of shells rained down on several of its neighborhoods. Israeli military vehicles were also spotted moving from Bayyada towards Mansouri.

10:03 Beirut Time

Series of overnight Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon

During the night from Thursday to Friday, the Israeli air force carried out a series of raids on several areas in southern Lebanon, targeting Wadi Slouqi, Qantara, Bani Hayyan, and Tallousa in the Marjayoun district, as well as Nabatieh Fawqa, using high-explosive missiles, reports our correspondent in the region.

09:55 Beirut Time

Hello and welcome to our live news blog

Hello and welcome to our live news blog. Read our Morning Brief here, and catch up on yesterday's blog here.