Israeli strikes on south Lebanon kill three people
'The Israeli enemy drone strike that targeted a vehicle' in Tyre district 'killed one person,' a ministry statement said.
The Israeli military said that it 'struck and eliminated' a Hezbollah commander who was 'involved in efforts to rehabilitate the terrorist organization in the area of Bint Jbeil,' near the border.
It did not specify where the strike took place.
The Lebanese health ministry later reported that another Israeli strike in Tyre district, on the town of Debaal, killed two people. The state-run National News Agency reported that it targeted a house.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the reported strike in Debaal.
Israel has kept up its strikes on Lebanon despite a November ceasefire that sought to end over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war.
It has warned it will continue to strike until the Iran-backed militant group has been disarmed.
Under the truce, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani river, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region.
Israel was to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon but has kept them in five areas it deems strategic.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 minutes ago
- Arab News
Israel army chief warns of combat ‘without rest' unless hostages are freed
JERUSALEM: Israel's top general has warned that there will be no respite in fighting in Gaza if negotiations fail to quickly secure the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.'I estimate that in the coming days we will know whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages,' said army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to a military statement.'If not, the combat will continue without rest,' he said, during remarks to officers inside Gaza on released by the Israeli military showed Zamir meeting soldiers and officers in a command the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of them dead, according to the armed groups this week released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and – mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar – to secure a ceasefire and their release broke down last month, and some in Israel have called for tougher military comes against the backdrop of growing pressure – both internationally and domestically, including from many of the hostages' families – to resume efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly 22-month agencies have meanwhile warned that Gaza's population is facing a catastrophic famine, triggered by Israeli restrictions on nonetheless rejected these allegations out of hand.'The current campaign of false accusations of intentional starvation is a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF (military), a moral army, of war crimes,' he said.'The ones responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in the Gaza Strip is Hamas.'Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures.A total of 898 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since ground troops were sent into Gaza, according to the campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.
Asharq Al-Awsat
8 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas: Mediators Relayed ‘Discouraging' Israeli Response to Truce Proposal
A Hamas official said on Friday that Israel's response to the group's latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was 'discouraging,' casting further doubt on the prospect of a breakthrough in long-stalled truce talks. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said mediators had recently conveyed a verbal Israeli reply that maintained hardline positions rejected by the Palestinian faction. 'Israel is still insisting on enforcing the US-proposed aid mechanism, which Palestinians have already rejected, and on keeping its military positions inside the Gaza Strip,' the official said, adding that the response 'indicates there is no genuine intention to end the war.' A source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday that Israel had issued a reply on Wednesday to Hamas' latest amendments to a proposed deal involving a 60-day truce and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. After Hamas responded to the proposal, the United States and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Doha last week, suspending talks that had resumed on July 6. The breakdown was accompanied by a flurry of mutual accusations between Hamas, Washington, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a separate development, an Egyptian source familiar with the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat that the negotiations have been in crisis since the Israeli and US delegations left for consultations more than a week ago. 'Each side remains entrenched in its conditions, and none is showing flexibility that would suggest a breakthrough is near,' the source said, adding that Washington currently appears more focused on increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza than on reviving negotiations. 'Even if talks resume under pressure, Israel's intention to maintain its military presence in parts of the Strip suggests the negotiations may once again lead nowhere,' the source warned. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff visited an aid distribution center in Gaza on Friday, according to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who shared the news on X. The White House said Witkoff travelled to the enclave to inspect food delivery operations and finalize a plan to speed up humanitarian aid flows. Following their visit, the special envoy and ambassador will brief the president directly to secure approval of a final plan for distributing food and aid across the region, said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. US outlet Axios reported on Friday that President Donald Trump had said he was working on a plan to feed people in Gaza. On Thursday, Trump also urged Hamas to surrender, describing it as the fastest way to end the crisis.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hezbollah Prepares for Cabinet Arms Talks with Candid Aoun Meeting
Hezbollah sought to ease tensions ahead of a high-stakes Lebanese cabinet session next Tuesday by dispatching its parliamentary bloc chief, MP Mohammad Raad, to meet with President Joseph Aoun on Thursday night—just hours after Aoun publicly and explicitly called for the exclusive possession of weapons by the state for the first time. The cabinet meeting, set to convene at the Baabda Presidential Palace, aims to resume discussions on enforcing the ministerial statement's clause affirming state sovereignty across Lebanese territory—using solely official security and military institutions. That debate began during a cabinet session on April 17, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office. Sources familiar with the political maneuvering told Asharq al-Awsat the real challenge lies not in holding the session or reaffirming the principle of exclusive state arms—already enshrined in the ministerial agenda—but in establishing a clear timetable for disarmament and securing its approval by the government. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored that point in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army on Friday, saying: 'There will be no salvation for Lebanon without serious efforts to place all arms under the sole control of our army. Stability can only come through extending the state's authority over all Lebanese territory, in line with the Taif Agreement and our government's ministerial statement.' The Lebanese presidency did not officially acknowledge the meeting between Raad and General Aoun, while Hezbollah's media outlets offered a brief account, describing it as a 'candid discussion on many files' and 'positive, pending further developments.' No agreement emerged from the meeting on a binding mechanism, according to sources speaking to Asharq al-Awsat. Instead, it opened the door for continued high-level dialogue between Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Salam—raising the likelihood that ministers from Hezbollah and its ally Amal movement may attend Tuesday's session, even though no final decision has been made. Political contacts in Beirut are now focused on formulating proposals that would help the cabinet avoid internal friction while also satisfying international demands. One such suggestion, according to sources, involves reaffirming the government's commitment to the exclusive possession of weapons—already included in the ministerial declaration—while deferring implementation details to the Supreme Defense Council and the army. Various domestic political forces are said to be involved in refining this compromise. 'These proposals aim to prevent the session from becoming a flashpoint for open confrontation between the state and Hezbollah,' the sources said. 'There is broad recognition—especially among the country's top three leaders—that this moment calls for safeguarding stability and preserving the space for dialogue.' Sources close to Parliament viewed the mere occurrence of the meeting between Raad and Aoun as a 'positive' sign that major escalation was not imminent. 'It opened a channel to dispel mutual concerns,' one MP told Asharq al-Awsat, noting that Aoun began his public comments on disarmament by aligning himself with key Lebanese demands that Hezbollah itself shares. These include the Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, halting violations of the ceasefire agreement—such as targeted assassinations—and launching reconstruction efforts and prisoner releases. Hezbollah, in turn, sees the meeting as part of its ongoing dialogue with Aoun, particularly in light of his recent speech urging movement on the disarmament issue. According to sources close to the group, Hezbollah agrees with Aoun's remarks but insists that other points warrant further discussion—especially given continued Israeli aggression and occupation of Lebanese land. Addressing such sensitive matters publicly, they argue, weakens Lebanon's position under international pressure. 'We need unity, not fragmentation,' one Hezbollah source said. 'This is a time to consolidate our strength, not expose our internal divisions.' Hezbollah has long argued that it has met its obligations under the ceasefire deal, including withdrawing from south of the Litani River, exercising restraint over Israeli violations, and refraining from joining Iran's military operations—underscoring that its weapons serve a local, not external, role. The group also highlights its role in Lebanon's political process, saying it has cooperated constructively on reform efforts and consistently supported dialogue. Lebanese officials have privately acknowledged mounting international pressure—particularly from the United States and Israel—to implement a disarmament plan with a clear timeline. While Israel continues to carry out airstrikes, US envoy Thomas Barrack recently delivered a paper of demands to Beirut that went beyond the existing ceasefire terms. He offered no guarantees but promised to present the document to Israeli officials once Lebanon accepted it. Aoun confirmed on Thursday that the Lebanese authorities are committed to 'disarming all armed groups, including Hezbollah.' In doing so, he revealed the contents of Lebanon's demands and sought to reassure Hezbollah's base by incorporating its concerns into the official memo—while asserting that the state remains the sole negotiator in resolving the crisis. He also called on Hezbollah to fulfill its responsibilities in that regard.
