An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, has killed five people, including Hezbollah’s chief of staff Haitham Ali al-Tabatabai. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on Sunday, describing al-Tabatabai as a key operational leader within the group. Arab News identified him as Hezbollah’s second most important figure. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 28 others were injured in the attack, which targeted the densely populated Dahiyeh district. Hezbollah confirmed the death of its senior commander, accusing Israel of crossing a 'serious red line.' The strike occurred despite an existing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France in November last year. Israeli officials allege that Hezbollah has been rebuilding its military capacity, smuggling weapons into Lebanon, and increasing the production of explosive drones, raising fears of renewed conflict in the region.

In southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, olive farmers are struggling to recover after a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel devastated their lands. Following the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces bulldozed farmland and uprooted more than 56,000 olive trees to create a buffer zone along the border. Farmers like Khairallah Yaacoub and Hussein Daher face ongoing dangers from Israeli drones and shelling, making it perilous to access their groves. The United Nations reports over 270 Lebanese deaths since the ceasefire, while the FAO estimates $236 million in losses to the olive sector alone. Many farmers have lost livestock and equipment, and olive oil production has plummeted. The Lebanese government has promised compensation of up to $2,500 per farmer and plans to plant 200,000 olive seedlings, but affected communities say aid has been slow and insufficient. Without substantial support from both the government and international donors, farmers fear they will be forced to abandon centuries-old agricultural traditions vital to the region’s economy and identity.

At least 13 people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attack targeted a vehicle parked near a mosque on November 18. Israel claimed the strike was aimed at Hamas operatives allegedly running a training center inside the camp. However, Hamas denied having any such facility, calling the assault a brutal aggression against innocent Palestinians and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty. Lebanese authorities reported that at least four others were injured, with emergency services transporting victims to nearby hospitals. The strike came hours after Israel reportedly attacked two vehicles in another area of southern Lebanon, killing two people. The incident underscores escalating cross-border hostilities as Israel continues operations against militant groups in the region.

UN peacekeepers reported that Israeli forces fired from a Merkava tank at a UNIFIL patrol inside Lebanese territory, with heavy machine gun rounds landing just five meters away. No injuries were reported. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the peacekeepers were mistaken for suspects due to poor weather conditions and that only warning shots were fired. UNIFIL condemned the incident as a serious breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which restricts armed forces in southern Lebanon to UN and Lebanese troops. The peacekeepers were pinned down for about 30 minutes before leaving the area. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire agreement signed last November. Lebanon accused Israel of violating its sovereignty and obstructing the army’s deployment in the south, while Israel maintains it targets Hezbollah militants attempting to rearm. UNIFIL urged Israel to cease aggressive actions against peacekeepers.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has determined that a wall constructed by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the concrete T-wall built by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made over 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory inaccessible to residents. Another section of the wall under construction near Yaroun also reportedly extends into Lebanese land. UNIFIL informed the Israeli military of its findings and requested the removal of the wall, calling the construction a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Israeli military denied the allegation, stating the wall is part of a broader border reinforcement plan initiated in 2022 to strengthen defenses along the northern frontier. UNIFIL, which has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978, continues to monitor the situation with more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, November 8, killed three people in two separate attacks, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) as reported by Press TV. Two of the victims were brothers from the town of Shebaa, who were traveling in an SUV along the slopes of Mount Hermon when their vehicle was struck and set ablaze. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths and reported another fatality in a separate strike targeting a vehicle in the village of Barashit, which also left four others injured. The Israeli military claimed the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah members, alleging that those killed posed a threat to the 2024 ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. Lebanese sources argue that Israel has repeatedly used such claims to justify renewed attacks since the agreement was signed. Earlier, an Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil injured seven people.

The United States has announced tough new sanctions against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, accusing the group of laundering over one billion dollars in funds received from Iran through both licensed and unlicensed money exchange networks. The U.S. Treasury said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force has been transferring large sums since January, fueling Hezbollah’s paramilitary operations and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley emphasized that Lebanon can only achieve stability and prosperity if Hezbollah is disarmed and cut off from Iranian financial and political influence. The sanctions coincide with renewed violence in Lebanon, as Israel launched significant airstrikes despite a year-old ceasefire between the two sides. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, one person was killed and another injured in Thursday’s attacks. In response, the Lebanese army has started operations to dismantle Hezbollah bases in the south. The move heightens regional tension amid ongoing disputes over Iranian involvement and Hezbollah’s growing military presence within Lebanon.

Israel carried out extensive airstrikes across four cities in southern Lebanon—Ayta al-Jabal, Taybeh, Tair Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya—killing at least one person and injuring nine others. Lebanese officials accused Israel of flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement brokered in late 2024, following months of border tensions. According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Israeli fighter jets struck civilian areas in Tyre district, contradicting Israel’s claim that the strikes targeted Hezbollah military sites.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, calling them “a clear breach of international humanitarian law” and evidence that Israel was forcing a new war on Lebanon. Hezbollah reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire but warned it would not remain silent under continued Israeli aggression. The group said it reserved the legitimate right to respond in self-defense.

The recent escalation comes despite the 2024 ceasefire, which required Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025—a condition that remains unfulfilled. Israel continues to maintain troops in at least five border posts and has conducted near-daily air raids since the truce. Over 4,000 Lebanese have been killed since the conflict reignited in 2024, underscoring the fragility of the region’s security and diplomacy.

Israeli forces carried out a late-night raid in Blida, southern Lebanon, on October 29, killing municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh. The operation, which involved drones and armored vehicles, targeted a municipal building, allegedly to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, though Israel has provided no evidence that the building was used by the group. The military claimed gunfire was opened after encountering a “suspicious individual,” but it remains unclear whether Salameh was the intended target. The attack has sparked outrage across Lebanon. President Michel Aoun has ordered the military to repel any Israeli incursions along the southern border. Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strike as a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and government institutions. Demonstrations were held in Blida and surrounding towns, with protesters burning tires and blocking roads to denounce the attack and the state’s failure to protect citizens.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed responsibility for killing Abbas Hassan Karki, Hezbollah’s southern front logistics chief, in a drone strike near the town of Toul in southern Lebanon on October 24. According to the IDF, Karki had led efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s combat capabilities, assisted in reconstructing damaged infrastructure, and oversaw weapons transfers and storage in the region. The IDF described his actions as a violation of the understanding between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed that two people were killed and two injured in the strike but did not comment on Israel’s claim regarding Karki. The attack comes amid ongoing tensions, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, following a conflict that killed over 4,000 people, injured 17,000+, and displaced roughly 1.4 million Lebanese.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared that neither Israel nor the United States would ever be able to defeat the Lebanese resistance movement. In a message addressed to participants of the “Al-Sayyid Generation” scouting rally, Qassem praised the young scouts as “the bright soldiers of Imam Mahdi” and lauded their role in strengthening Hezbollah’s legacy of resistance. He emphasized that Lebanon’s identity and freedom were built upon the sacrifices of its martyrs and vowed that the group would continue to stand firm against what he described as occupation and oppression. Qassem also reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to Palestine and Jerusalem, calling them symbols of justice guiding the region’s struggle. He concluded by urging perseverance through sacrifice, promising that Hezbollah’s flag would remain “high and unbroken.”

The U.S. has approved nearly $250 million in military aid to support Lebanon’s Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Forces (ISF). Before the fiscal year ended, $192 million was allocated to the LAF and $54 million to the ISF. The aid aims to strengthen state forces against terrorism and reduce Hezbollah’s influence. Lebanese President Michel Aoun recently met U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, urging increased support for the LAF to expand state authority nationwide.

Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has called on Saudi Arabia to join forces against Israeli aggression. His remarks came after fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday.
Hezbollah indicated a willingness to rebuild ties with Riyadh, emphasizing dialogue, resolving past disputes, and identifying Israel as a common enemy.
Relations between Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia soured in 2016 when the Gulf Cooperation Council designated the Iran-backed group as a terrorist organization. However, shifting geopolitics in the Middle East may now open the door to rapprochement.

The United States has announced $14.2 million in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, aiming to enhance their operational capabilities and safely remove unexploded ordnance and Hezbollah weapons caches. The aid aligns with previous U.S. efforts to support Lebanon against Iran-backed militant groups and curb Hezbollah’s influence. The announcement coincides with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urging regional countries to back the Palestinian resistance and cautioning governments against supporting Israel in ways that undermine the resistance movement.

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has vowed the group will never surrender to Israeli aggression. In a televised speech marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birth anniversary, he said Hezbollah has sacrificed leaders to defend Lebanon and continues to block Israel’s objectives. He accused the U.S. of backing Israeli dominance in Lebanon and urged national unity to resist. Qassem warned Saudi Arabia and the UAE could face future Israeli strikes under the “Greater Israel” plan, stressing resistance as the main deterrent.