Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy visits Zawtar Gharbieh in southern Lebanon on Oct. 20, 2026. (Credit: Ammar Ammar/AFP)
The Israeli army accused the Lebanese Army of failing to meet its obligations to disarm Hezbollah, as Lebanese and Israeli military delegations prepare to meet Tuesday in Tampa, Florida, to negotiate an end to the war and Israel's occupation of parts of south Lebanon
In a lengthy post on X, Ella Waweya, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, claimed she had “evidence” that Hezbollah continues to move freely through military sites that the Lebanese Army was supposed to have neutralized under the 2024 cease-fire agreement.
She attached a video that she claimed was filmed in Kafra, in southern Lebanon, showing a vehicle entering a hangar before an airstrike. It was not possible to verify the video’s location or date.
Why it matters
According to statements by President Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese delegation plans to raise the issue of continued Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon during Tuesday’s talks in Tampa.
The tripartite framework agreement between Lebanon, Israel and the United States, signed in Washington in June, was intended to provide for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from occupied areas of southern Lebanon. So far, however, Israeli forces have withdrawn from only one “pilot zone,” Zawtar Gharbieh, in the Nabatieh district.
With Israel’s legislative elections just a week away, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tight race against his main political rivals. Analysts point to his army’s use of accusations as a tactic to appear determined to confront Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy visited Zawtar Gharbieh on Tuesday morning. “What is happening in southern Lebanon is unacceptable,” he said. “Arab efforts are underway to pressure Israel, which continues its illegal practices.”
Palestinian refugees believed to be fleeing Lebanese camps in a migrant boat shipwrecked off Greece's coast after colliding with a Greek coast guard patrol.
A source from the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, where some of the migrants fled from, said at least three women and two men were among those killed. Others survived, including a young man who managed to contact his mother through a video seen by L'Orient Today.
- Pete Hegseth meets Netanyahu in Israel: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel. The Pentagon has not confirmed the meeting, while Israeli media reported it. The visit came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump voiced strong support for Netanyahu, claiming he will have a "resounding victory.”
- Sergei Lavrov visits Iran: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Iran on Tuesday, meeting with several officials, including President Massoud Pezeshkian and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. “Never in our history have Iran and Russia cooperated as closely as they do today,” Araghchi wrote on X.
- Parliament renews committee membership: Parliament held internal elections Tuesday morning to renew the membership of its committees, including their chairs and secretaries. During the session, MP George Adwan submitted a bill on behalf of the Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc to shorten Parliament’s mandate. He argued that Lebanon urgently needs new elections and a renewal of its political class.
- Saudi Arabia reports missile interception: Saudi forces said Tuesday that they had intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the capital, shortly after authorities issued an alert and AFP journalists reported explosions. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted Riyadh with missiles since the start of a government offensive backed by Saudi Arabia.
