• Israeli forces have continued to attack Lebanon.

Israeli forces conduct extensive demolitions in south Lebanon

The National News Agency reports Israeli forces continue to conduct demolitions in southern Lebanon with extensive blasts inside the town of Khiam.

Multiple consecutive explosions were heard shaking the area throughout the night, according to the NNA.

Israel has been accused of carrying out a deliberate policy of destroying homes and infrastructure in the south – much like it did in Gaza – to make it uninhabitable for Lebanese residents.

2 injured in Israeli drone attack on rubbish truck in south Lebanon

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports an Israeli drone attack hit a pick-up truck on the outskirts of Shukin and Kfar Dajjal in Nabatieh district.

The attack occurred at 6am local time while the vehicle was unloading waste, wounding two people.

The death toll from Israel’s assault on the country has risen to 4,321, with 12,203 injured since March 2.

The latest attack comes despite Lebanon and Israel signing a US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26 for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

Israeli forces continue attacks throughout southern Lebanon

Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon intensified between Thursday night and Friday morning with continued air raids, gunfire, and demolitions despite a US-brokered “ceasefire”.

• An Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near the town of al-Mansouri in the southern Tyre district.
• Overnight, Israeli troops opened machine-gun fire positions in Biyyada towards Buyout al-Sayyad in Tyre.
• The National News Agency reported Israeli tanks and military vehicles advanced towards Birket al-Hammam in Khiam as military activity persisted around the town.
• Israeli soldiers set fire to several homes in Qantara in Marjayoun district.
• Israeli forces opened fire from Beit Yahoun towards residential neighborhoods in Braachit in Bint Jbeil district, damaging several homes.
• Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the casualty toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 reached 4,321 people killed and 12,204 wounded.

Lebanese president, army chief discuss Israeli attacks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met army commander Rodolphe Haykal to discuss “the security situation in the country in general and in the south in particular, in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks on a number of southern villages and towns”, his office said.

“The discussion also addressed the ongoing preparations to implement what is contained in the framework formula in the designated experimental areas, where the Lebanese Army is expected to deploy concurrently with the Israeli withdrawal,” a post on X said.

The US brokered the direct Israel-Lebanon talks, which began in April, and it is also a signatory to what is officially a trilateral agreement.

But the deal does not force Israel to withdraw from the large area of southern Lebanon it continues to occupy, and Israel also appears to be signaling it will continue attacks if it deems necessary.

Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Israeli attacks on Lebanon that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children

Amnesty International has called for war crimes investigations into three Israeli air attacks on southern Lebanon that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children, in March.

The attacks hit homes in Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh districts on March 6, 12 and 13, killing six women, including a pregnant one, and six men. At least 18 people were wounded.

Amnesty said its investigation found grounds to conclude that Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law by striking civilians or civilian property, failing to distinguish between military and civilian targets, or failing to limit civilian harm.

“Within the space of just a week – the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends? The international community must act now: States must impose an immediate comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and use universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those responsible,” said Amnesty’s Kristine Beckerle.

The group also warned that the latest US-brokered Israel-Lebanon agreement could block accountability and urged Lebanon to grant the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory.

Israeli attack hits car in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency is reporting that an Israeli drone carried out a double-tap strike on a car traveling on the Doha Road in the town of Kfar Reman.

There is no word yet on casualties, but we’ll keep you updated as information comes in.

Lebanese president again defends decision to negotiate with Israel

President Joseph Aoun dismissed criticisms of the Lebanese government’s decision to negotiate with Israel, saying that they “do not deserve a response”.

“I assure you that I will not back down from the decision to negotiate that I have taken, while insisting that all my positions include clarifications to the Lebanese people about the importance of the path we are taking, and Lebanon’s adherence to its sovereignty in all the steps we take”, he said while addressing a Christian political bloc headed by Samir Geagea.

The framework agreement with Israel, co-signed by the US and reached last month, has provoked Lebanese anger, with critics saying it robs Lebanon of its ability to take action against Israel if it does not hold up its end of the deal.

More Israeli drone attacks reported in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) is reporting two more Israeli drone attacks in the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon, one in the town of Kfar Reman and another in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

The NNA did not elaborate on the targets of these attacks and no casualties were reported.

The assaults come after a separate drone strike also targeted the town of Kfar Reman earlier.

Netanyahu needs an enemy closer to Israeli elections: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told UAE state media that Turkiye and Israel have no reason to “have an open conflict”.

Speaking to The National, Fidan said, “Netanyahu and some people, as they get closer to the elections, need an enemy. After they wage war on Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, they need another enemy to get somebody to pity them.”

In recent days, Israeli prime minister has targeted Turkiye, saying Erdogan wants to “eliminate the state of Israel”.

Israel suspends attacks on Lebanon under American pressure

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority is reporting that the Israeli government ordered the military to refrain from carrying out “sensitive operations” in southern Lebanon following American pressure.

The Israeli army is expected to begin withdrawing from so-called pilot areas in southern Lebanon next week, when additional talks between Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to be held in Rome, Israel’s public broadcaster added.

Hezbollah MP slams Israel-Lebanon agreement, says country under US guardianship

Hezbollah MP Ibrahim al-Musawi has accused Lebanon of being under US guardianship after it signed a US-sponsored framework agreement with Israel.

Al-Musawi said that Hezbollah rejects the deal, which it considers invalid, as well as any direct negotiations with Israel.

The representative added that authorities in Lebanon must not exacerbate the internal division and questioned the government’s narrative that it is following the will of the Lebanese people.

“The Lebanese decision is not to put the country’s interests in the hands of America and Israel,” al-Musawi said.

One killed, one injured in Israeli attack in Kafr Rumman

We mentioned earlier that an Israeli drone carried out a double-tap strike on a car travelling on the Doha Road in the town of Kafr Rumman, in southern Lebanon.

The National News Agency has now confirmed that one man riding a motorcycle was killed in the attack. Another person traveling by car was seriously injured and transferred to a hospital in Sidon for treatment.