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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country was ready to receive an international force to replace UNIFIL if its mandate could not be extended, provided it continued implementing Resolution 1701 and supported the army in the south. He warned of a security vacuum, accusing Israel of failing to comply with the ceasefire and the terms of the framework agreement.
Israeli air strikes targeted Wadi Zibqine, while artillery shelling hit Majdal Zoun and the surrounding valleys, amid explosions and military movements in towns across southern Lebanon. The operations are part of ongoing strikes that have also affected other towns since Monday, despite a decline in the intensity of hostilities since late June.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed during a meeting with US Senator Jeanne Shaheen in New York that his government is committed to reforms, extending state authority and restricting arms to the state. He called for continued US support for the army and an international presence in southern Lebanon, while Shaheen urged the adoption of a financial gap law and the completion of reforms required for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
Israeli forces continued their military operations in southern Lebanon on Monday, carrying out air strikes on Wadi al-Saluki and areas near Nabatieh and Tyre, alongside artillery shelling of towns in the districts of Marjeyoun, Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh, as well as sweeping operations, movements by military vehicles and the demolition of homes in al-Mansouri.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji reaffirmed Beirut’s commitment to negotiations to restore sovereignty over all its territory, saying the military option had devastated the south and displaced its residents. He stressed that placing weapons under state control was an independent Lebanese decision, and said efforts were under way to establish an international force under the umbrella of the United Nations as an alternative to UNIFIL.
The southern Lebanese town of Mansouri witnessed heavy explosions carried out by Israeli forces during the night, with their echoes reaching villages and towns across the Tyre district. The explosions coincided with an air strike on the al-Araish neighbourhood and further attacks targeting several towns and areas in southern Lebanon.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the continued presence of Israeli forces in Lebanon was linked to the Lebanese army’s ability to perform its role, stressing that Israel was not seeking to annex Lebanese territory. His remarks came after a framework agreement providing for a phased withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south.
Lebanese visual artist and archaeologist Lina Jouni has transformed bombing remnants collected from her home and rubble-clearance sites in southern Lebanon into faces, sculptures and paintings that revive the stories of victims and places. Her project includes a piece of a missile reshaped as a cedar tree and a sculpture made from rubble bearing the words, “We refuse to die.”
An Israeli force left the outskirts of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon after approaching a temporary Lebanese Army observation post and firing stun grenades nearby. The Army said contacts conducted by the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon ended the alert, before its personnel returned to their main base in the town.
The Lebanese army sent reinforcements to a newly established military position on the outskirts of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon on Friday, after an Israeli force advanced towards the site and fired stun grenades in its vicinity. Field accounts said the force approached army personnel amid tensions and military movements in the area.
Lawyer Wassim Ghawi has asked Beirut’s First Investigating Judge to release former Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh, citing the repayment of two loans with interest, objections to the grounds for pretrial detention, and medical reports warning of risks from keeping his client in detention.
Representatives of 17 countries are meeting in Paris to discuss the needs of the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces as part of efforts to strengthen their deployment across Lebanon. The meeting is preceded by talks between French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II. The conference is expected to issue a declaration of intent containing a timetable for aid.
Lebanon’s parliament renewed confidence in Nawaf Salam’s government, with 68 of the 81 lawmakers attending the session voting in its favour, amid criticism of its performance and political fears of a vacuum. The government faces issues including negotiations with Israel, placing arms under state control and financial reforms, amid internal divisions and continuing Israeli attacks on the south.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country is seeking a security agreement with Israel to end the state of hostility, which could serve as a possible prelude to a later peace agreement. He linked progress to Israel’s withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the return of residents and prisoners, stressing that weapons would be brought under state control without internal clashes.
Lebanon's Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said his country had chosen direct negotiations with Israel, under US sponsorship, to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south, the deployment of the army and the return of residents. He made the remarks during a visit to Pakistan that included signing an agreement on prisoner exchanges and discussing security cooperation.
Paris will host a meeting on Thursday bringing together the leaders of France, Jordan and Lebanon to discuss a clear and realistic plan to strengthen the Lebanese army’s deployment in the south and support state institutions. The meeting comes ahead of an international conference to support the army, amid continuing security tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Lebanon’s Public Prosecution asked the investigating judge to charge former President Michel Aoun in the Beirut port blast case, citing his prior knowledge of the presence and danger of ammonium nitrate, according to a judicial source. Investigating Judge Tarek Bitar has the authority to rule on the request and issue the indictment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted videos related to Lebanon and Hezbollah, presenting control of Ali al-Taher Heights as a military achievement. Lebanese researchers say the developments have become a tool he is using to strengthen his position against rivals and influence Israeli voters ahead of the election.
Israeli forces carried out a blast in al-Qantara in southern Lebanon as Benjamin Netanyahu announced that targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure would continue. The developments came amid intensified airstrikes after Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 13 people, including six children, were killed in Kfar Rumman, while a medic was killed in a separate strike.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army was preparing to take control of Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon, pledging to prevent Hezbollah from returning. Meanwhile, Israel’s public broadcaster reported a local and limited withdrawal from the heights, as Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit several areas in the Nabatieh district.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was preparing to establish operational control over Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah and other groups from re-establishing their presence there. He linked any withdrawal or redeployment of Israeli forces to Hezbollah being disarmed across Lebanon.
Israeli forces detonated a tunnel network on Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon, saying it served as a command center containing missiles, drones and other weapons. Military experts said the loss weakened Hezbollah’s defenses around Nabatieh but did not mean the collapse of its military structure.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry has referred a file on 6 cancer medicines in circulation to the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation to investigate their quality, effectiveness and manufacturing sources. While specialists confirmed the safety of medicines officially registered and imported, they warned of drugs entering the market through unlicensed sources and of the risks of transporting and storing them outside regulatory oversight.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said during a surprise visit to the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Saturday that there are currently no negotiations with Israel. Aoun inspected the damage and heard residents’ complaints, stressing the government’s commitment to withdrawal, the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction, as Israeli raids intensified in recent days.
