The situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate as clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army increase. Relentless bombing and political and diplomatic initiatives are underway to try to calm the situation, without success so far. Here is a complete overview of the situation with the latest information.
1) News from the front
The fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army is particularly intense this morning. At around 6:00 a.m., rockets were fired by Hezbollah at the Israeli military base in Tirat Carmel, located south of Haifa. The rocket shot marked a series of attacks on Israeli positions overnight. Earlier, at 5:45 a.m., Hezbollah forces attacked the Zarit thesis with heavy weapons and a « Barkan » missile, causing considerable damage.
Hezbollah also reported that it had repelled several Israeli infiltration attempts near the border village of Ramia at around 3:45 a.m., killing or wounding Israeli soldiers. The situation on the border remains tense, with regular exchanges of fire and attempts by both sides to take control of key positions.
On the Israeli side, from midnight, rocket fire from Lebanon caused alarm sirens in Haifa, Nahariya, and other areas of northern Israel. The Israeli army confirmed that it had intercepted five of the rockets through its air defense system, while reinforcements were sent to the Lebanese border.
At around 7:45 a.m., Israeli media reported that at least 11 Israeli soldiers had been wounded since the early hours of the morning, four of them seriously, in clashes with Hezbollah.
2) Information on the bombings
Israeli bombing has intensified in recent hours. At around 11:30 a.m., the Israeli air force carried out an air raid on the town of Bazourieh in southern Lebanon, using two missiles that caused significant material damage. Earlier, at 10:34 a.m., Israeli strikes targeted the communities of Aita al-Shaab, Ramia, and Alma al-Shaab, causing massive destruction.
Overnight, at 1:00 a.m., an airstrike hit the town of Zefta in southern Lebanon, while another at 11:50 p.m.targeted a car traveling on the Qatrani-Midoun highway in the West Bekaa, killing two people and wounding one. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed the casualties and also reported several injuries in the Nabatieh area and Aitat overnight.
Israel has also stepped up its strikes on civilian infrastructure. At around 10:20 a.m., an airstrike destroyed a historic mosque in the village of Kfartebnit, killing several civilians. Hezbollah responded by firing a new salvo of rockets at Israeli positions, including targeting a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Maroun al-Ras at around 11:00 a.m.
3) Diplomatic initiatives
On the diplomatic scene, several initiatives have been launched to try to calm the situation. Yesterday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, to discuss ways to end the hostilities. While the details of this discussion are not public, it is likely that they addressed the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 , which calls for a ceasefire and international monitoring along Lebanon’s southern border.
At around 11:00 p.m., Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also received a call from Amos Hochstein, the US envoy for the negotiations. Their conversation focused on the search for a ceasefire in order to return to the negotiating table, based on Resolution 1701. However, despite these efforts, the conflict on the ground shows no signs of abating.
In addition, at around 10:45 a.m. this morning, the head of Israel’s Mossad confirmed that he had received encouraging signals from Hezbollah and Iran regarding a possible resolution of the conflict, although he made it clear that any negotiations must include the release of Israeli hostages held by Hezbollah.
4) Miscellaneous information
Among other important information, the Pentagon expressed concern about the recent Israeli attacks on UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) positions in the south of the country. In a phone call at around 2:30 a.m. between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, Austin stressed the importance of protecting international forces and stopping attacks on civilian infrastructure.
In Israel, hospitals in Haifa continue to receive wounded soldiers from the northern front, with at least 11 soldiers transported this morning to health facilities after violent clashes on the Lebanese border.
Finally, a surprising piece of information emerged around 11:40 a.m., when the Israeli army claimed to have captured a Hezbollah fighter during an operation near the border. The capture marks a further escalation in the conflict, with Israel now seeking intelligence on Hezbollah’s operations.
