1- Local news:
The security situation in Lebanon is marked by an intensification of Israeli clashes and bombings, particularly in the southern and northern regions of the country. The Lebanese press, including Al-Diyar and Al-Nahar, reported on the escalation of Israeli attacks on residential areas, causing civilian deaths and massive destruction. Among the affected localities, Dierbala in the Batroun area was hit for the first time, raising concerns about the expansion of Israeli targets, according to Al-Nahar. Israeli shelling also intensified in Maaysra in the Kesrouan area and Jadra in the Chouf, causing the death of several civilians, as reported by Al-Diyar.
Despite the violence, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) refused to withdraw, following Israeli requests to evacuate some of their positions on the Blue Line. According to Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for UNIFIL, relayed by Al-Nahar, the UN mission considers it essential to maintain its presence to preserve a minimum of stability in southern Lebanon. Tenenti’s remarks insist on the need for a political and diplomatic solution to avoid a regional catastrophe.
On the Lebanese side, diplomatic efforts are multiplying. Al-Diyar stressed the importance of calls between Lebanese politicians and international representatives, such as the exchange between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and French President Emmanuel Macron. Both reiterated the need to implement UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the deployment of the Lebanese army along the borders to stop hostilities. These diplomatic contacts reflect the desire to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but concrete results are still awaited.
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2- Regional news:
On the regional front, Israel maintained a state of high alert during the Yom Kippur festivities, fearing further attacks from Gaza and Lebanon. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, the IDF has stepped up its military operations on several fronts, including in the north against Hezbollah and in the south against Gaza. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced that the army would continue its actions on all fronts until the security of the Israeli population, especially those living near the borders with Gaza and Lebanon, is ensured.
Yediot Aharonot and Haaretz reported that the Israeli goal, according to military sources, is to secure a favorable deal for Israel in the region, by weakening forces like Hamas and Hezbollah, two strategic allies of Iran. The IDF is particularly aimed at limiting Hezbollah’s ability to operate south of the Litani River, a goal that still seems elusive given Hezbollah’s resilience on the ground.
Israeli analysts, such as Amos Harel in Haaretz, criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intransigent posture, which demands the full surrender of Hamas leaders in Gaza and the withdrawal of Hezbollah from Lebanon, considering these conditions unrealistic and far from a lasting peace solution. Lebanon’s Al-Anbaa newspaper also echoed Israeli threats to the populations of southern Lebanon, including medical teams, worsening the humanitarian crisis in conflict-affected areas.
3- International news:
Internationally, the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon and Gaza is attracting the attention of the world’s major powers. Al-Diyar reported that intensive telephone exchanges took place between the Lebanese authorities and American and French diplomats. U.S. President Joe Biden, through his Secretary of State Antony Blinken, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting stability in Lebanon, while encouraging a diplomatic resolution based on the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701. France, for its part, continues to play an active role, with Emmanuel Macron having insisted during his call with Nabih Berri on the importance of supporting Lebanon in the face of the humanitarian crisis that is developing with the mass exodus of populations displaced by the conflict.
At the regional level, Iran has reaffirmed its support for Lebanon, both humanitarianly and militarily. The president of the Shura Council, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on a visit to Beirut, assured that Iran would remain at Lebanon’s side, as reported by Al-Anbaa. The visit comes amid Iran’s intensified diplomatic efforts to maintain its influence in the region. Ghalibaf also announced the establishment of an airlift to deliver aid to the displaced populations, in coordination with the Lebanese government. However, this Iranian intervention is perceived by some observers, such as former Lebanese MP Fares Said in Al-Anbaa, as a pretext for Israel to continue its military actions under the guise of persistent Iranian threats.
The international press, including Yediot Aharonot, also reports the impact of Hezbollah rocket fire on Israel, forcing more than a million Israelis to take refuge in air raid shelters. Hizbullah has stepped up its fire, hitting strategic targets in cities such as Haifa, Akko and Safed, according to Al-Diyar, contributing to the escalation and prolonging hostilities with no apparent solution.
The UN, for its part, through its spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, continues to call for an immediate ceasefire. However, the UN’s efforts to achieve de-escalation have not yet borne fruit, with tensions remaining high on the ground, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat.
