Hezbollah Strikes Wound Seven Soldiers and Ten Civilians Along Israeli Border
The attack was among the most serious involving civilians along Israel’s northern border, and the Israeli military said it has “operational plans to change the security status in the north” to make it safe for Israeli residents to return to their homes (AP)
France to Send Armored Vehicles to Lebanese Army
France’s defense minister said the dozens of vehicles will help Lebanon carry out patrol missions amid growing difficulties in maintaining security in the country (Reuters)
UN to Cut Number of Refugees Receiving Cash Assistance in Lebanon by Nearly a Third
A UN budget shortfall led to the reduction in aid for Lebanon, which is set to take place next year and will affect eighty-eight thousand families. A program for families to receive extra assistance during the winter for heightened fuel expenses will also be halted (ABC)
The group said it shot down an Israeli drone, and the group reportedly hopes to use its surface-to-air missiles to reduce casualties; Israeli strikes have killed forty-seven Hezbollah members since the beginning of the war with Hamas (Reuters)
Hezbollah Leader Meets with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Representatives in Lebanon
The Iran-backed groups discussed what their alliance needs to do to “achieve a real victory for the resistance” (Reuters)
Lebanese PM Visits Border with Israel
Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s visit comes amid efforts to prevent Israel’s war with Hamas from spreading to Lebanon and two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israel’s northern border (AP)
Nearly 20,000 Displaced in Lebanon Amid Border Clashes
Most of the displaced have fled southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged frequent rocket fire in recent weeks (Reuters)
Clashes With Hezbollah Intensify Along the Israel-Lebanon Border
Israel ordered the evacuation of fourteen additional border communities as fighting continued; Hezbollah announced the deaths of six more militants as the two sides continue to exchange limited missile fire almost daily (AP;Reuters)
Hamas Says Closely Coordinating War Moves with Lebanon’s Hezbollah
Hamas’s representative in Beirut said Hezbollah did not have advance knowledge of the Hamas attack on Israel but was now “geared for a major war” (Politico)
Meanwhile, protests erupted outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds; Israel claims no responsibility for the bombing (Reuters)
Along the border, Israel reported gunfire at several military posts and responded with artillery fire (Times of Israel)
Israel to Evacuate 28 Communities Along Lebanese Border
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that citizens living within two kilometers of the border would be evacuated amid repeated cross-border strikes by Israel and Hezbollah (Times of Israel)
Israel declared its northern border with Lebanon a closed military zone, and Hezbollah said it had started to destroy surveillance cameras along the border (AP)
UN Peacekeeping Base in Lebanon Hit in Missile Strike
The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported no injuries; Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade artillery fire in the area (WSJ)
Reuters Journalist Killed in Missile Fire in Lebanon
Six other journalists were injured in the strike, which they said came from the direction of Israel; Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, along with Hezbollah, blamed Israel for the incident (Reuters)
Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Cross-Border Fire for Fourth Straight Day
Hezbollah struck Israeli positions after promising a decisive and deadly response to Israeli strikes that killed three of its members Monday; Israel retaliated by shelling towns in southern Lebanon (Reuters)
Hezbollah Fires Anti-Tank Missile, Israel Responds with Helicopter Strike
Israel reported no casualties after Hezbollah targeted one of its armored vehicles, and it later fired on a Hezbollah base in Lebanon (Times of Israel)
Israeli Soldiers and Militants Killed in Clashes Along Lebanese Border
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deployed soldiers and helicopters to the border following a report of suspects crossing into Israel, and three Israeli soldiers died in a confrontation with two “terrorist infiltrators” who had crossed from Lebanon; both militants were killed, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed them members (BBC;Reuters)
Israel also killed three Hezbollah militants in cross-border strikes in retaliation for Hezbollah shelling (BBC)
Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Artillery Fire Across Lebanese Border
After Hamas attacked Israel, Hezbollah launched a strike on an Israeli radar station in the disputed Shebaa Farms region “in solidarity” with Palestinians, and Israel responded by targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure; no casualties were reported, but Israel’s military spokesperson warned Hezbollah not to stay out of the Israel-Hamas conflict (Reuters;WSJ)
Lebanese Protesters Storm State Electric Company Building
The demonstrators are protesting high power bills and chronic power outages as the country’s economic crisis persists (Al-Monitor)
Hamas Official Travels to Lebanese Refugee Camp in Effort to Stem Violence
Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzouk, a top leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, arrived in Beirut yesterday and traveled to the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp after a cease-fire between rival factions in the camp quickly collapsed on Monday; hundreds of displaced families fled the camp amid the clashes (AP)
Clashes in Largest Palestinian Refugee Camp Wound Twenty
At least twenty people were wounded when clashes broke out overnight between rival groups in the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp (AP)
United Nations Suspends Relief Services in Largest Palestinian Refugee Camp
The suspension was due to the presence of armed fighters in the area (Reuters)
Lebanon’s Central Bank Chief Steps Down
Central bank leader Riad Salameh stepped down today after thirty years in his post, leaving his deputy as interim leader until the government names a successor; critics blame Salameh for Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis, and he is under investigation for embezzlement in several countries (BBC)
Meanwhile, fighting between rival factions in a Palestinian refugee camp killed nine people (BBC)
Hezbollah Calls for Protests in Lebanon Over Quran Burning
Thousands turned out to demonstrations in southern Beirut, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called on Muslims in Lebanon and abroad to demand the expulsion of Sweden’s ambassadors (AP)
Lebanon Builds Road Near Border, Drawing Israel’s Ire
Residents in southern Lebanon reportedly started building a border road in response to nearby Israeli construction, and Israeli security forces responded with smoke bombs, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah mount (Al-Monitor)
Israel Fires Warning Shots at Lebanese Group Along Shared Border
The group of eighteen, which included a member of parliament, reportedly suffered burns from Israeli smoke and tear gas grenades after crossing the Blue Line that separates the countries as border provocations continue to increase in frequency (Arab News;Times of Israel)
Earlier this week, Hezbollah members reportedly stole surveillance equipment from an Israeli border tower (Times of Israel)
Three Hezbollah Members Wounded in Israel-Lebanon Border Confrontation
Israel said it observed several people trying to damage a border fence along the internationally monitored Blue Line and repelled them with a non-lethal weapon (AP;Reuters)