Lebanon's parliament approved a law abolishing the death penalty on Tuesday, making the country the first in the Middle East to eliminate capital punishment, according to a report published on August 12, 2026. The new law replaces death sentences with life imprisonment and hard labor. A majority of lawmakers in the 128-member parliament voted for abolition after several amendments were introduced.

The Hezbollah-backed parliamentary bloc did not vote in favor of abolishing the death penalty. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts had continued issuing death sentences. Amnesty International said that, as of January this year, at least 85 people in the country were on death row.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the measure as a historic decision after its passage. The United Nations, European Union and France welcomed the move. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged other Middle Eastern countries that still retain the death penalty to follow Lebanon's example. Human rights groups called for commutation of all death sentences and ratification of an international treaty abolishing capital punishment.

Israeli military forces mistakenly destroyed their own equipment in southern Lebanon after firing an interceptor at it, according to a report published on August 12, 2026. The forces said they later identified the targeted equipment as belonging to the Israeli military.

The military said nobody was injured in the incident and no warning sirens were sounded. It said the circumstances behind how the error occurred were under review.

The report said Israeli forces continue to maintain an occupation in southern Lebanon despite a US-mediated “ceasefire” being in effect. It also said Israeli forces have continued carrying out attacks in the area.

Human Rights Watch said an Israeli airstrike that killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and wounded camerawoman Zainab Faraj in southern Lebanon earlier this year was deliberate and constituted a war crime. Khalil, a journalist for Lebanese outlet Al Akhbar, was killed on April 22 while reporting on Israeli aggression in the southern town of At-Tiri.

The rights group said evidence, including requests from the United Nations mission in Lebanon and the Red Cross, indicated that Israeli forces knew journalists were inside the building they struck. HRW said Khalil was killed in the attack and Faraj was wounded.

HRW also said Israeli forces prevented rescue teams from reaching the journalists’ location, when Khalil was likely still alive. In a statement, HRW’s Ramzi Kaiss said the information gathered clearly showed that the Israeli military knew, or should have known, that Faraj and Khalil were civilians. He said they were nevertheless attacked and paramedics were blocked from rescuing them for hours.

Israeli forces intensified attacks in Lebanon’s southern Tyre district, injuring at least four people, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The agency said three drone strikes were first carried out on the town of Burj Shemali, followed by another strike from a warplane at the same location. The injured were taken to hospital.

Many residents left their homes and headed toward Tyre city after the attacks because of security concerns. NNA also reported that Israeli warplanes carried out three rounds of strikes on the town of al-Mansouri and open areas between al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun.

The agency said artillery and tank fire also targeted the area. Shelling continued from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning across al-Mansouri, Majdal Zoun and nearby valleys. By dawn, the scope of the attacks had extended to the outskirts of Haddatha. Israeli forces also fired machine guns toward the coastal al-Hamra area of Bayt al-Sayyad.

Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed during an operation in Lebanon, according to an Israeli military statement. The deaths occurred in an explosion in the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun, as reported on August 6, 2026. The statement said four additional soldiers were seriously wounded in the confrontation.

The source did not provide the cause of the explosion, the identities of the soldiers killed, or further information about the condition of those injured. It described the incident as occurring while Israeli forces were conducting an operation in Lebanon.

Following the explosion, Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks in different areas of southern Lebanon. At least one person was killed in those attacks, the report said. The source did not identify the victim or specify the locations of the strikes, and it provided no further details about subsequent military steps.

At least two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven others injured in an IED explosion inside a building in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, according to Israeli media cited by Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen. The report was published by Amar Desh Online on August 5, 2026, and said several of the wounded were in serious condition.

The explosion occurred inside a building described as containing explosives, the report said. The killed and injured soldiers were members of the Israeli army's 55th Brigade. It also said Israeli forces have been conducting operations in the area of southern Lebanon for an extended period.

Israeli media sources said emergency surgery was underway to save the life of a third injured soldier. Following what was described as a "severe security situation," several people, including seriously wounded individuals, were transferred from southern Lebanon to hospitals in Israel. A helicopter accompanied by three ambulances landed at Rambam Hospital in occupied Haifa, according to the report.

An Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese town of Tibnin killed one person and injured 11 others, Lebanon’s state news agency reported. The report, published on August 5, 2026, said the strike targeted the roof of a prayer hall at a cemetery, causing the casualties.

Earlier, the agency said an Israeli drone strike in Tibnin caused a fire to spread through nearby woodland. Shortly before the attack, the Israeli military announced strikes in southern Lebanon and issued a warning for residents of the village of Al-Mansouri to evacuate forcibly.

The NNA also reported that Israeli forces deliberately set fires in woodland on the outskirts of the Kfarchouba area. It further said several people were injured by unexploded Israeli weapons that detonated in Tibnin. The report did not provide any official response or further steps following the attacks.

Israel carried out major overnight attacks across several areas of southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Published on July 31, the report said successive loud explosions shook the region. Powerful blasts were heard after Israeli attacks around midnight in Yohmor al-Shqif, Arnoun and Kfar Tebnit, while tremors were felt as far away as El-Kharroub and Khaldeh.

Intense explosions also occurred near the historic Beaufort Castle in the Marjayoun district. Many windowpanes in the nearby town of Qulayaa were shattered, and some homes were damaged. Local residents said the force of the explosions shook the entire area and left a strong smell of gunpowder in the air.

The NNA said Israeli forces fired heavy machine guns near the outskirts of al-Mansouri and Bayt al-Sayyad in the Tyre district, alongside heavy artillery shells in al-Mansouri. Israeli tank columns were also seen moving from the Baraachit hill in the Bint Jbeil district toward Ainata. Heavy explosions and strong tremors were reported in various eastern and western areas of the country at the same time.

Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said the military is fully prepared to continue operations on any front. He made the remarks to military officers while visiting areas occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon on July 30, 2026. Zamir said conflicts or military operations across different fronts have not yet ended and troops must remain ready to continue fighting in all circumstances.

He said the forces are prepared to address any changes and possible scenarios. Zamir also said Israeli forces would move deeper into Lebanon and reach new areas if necessary along the Lebanese border. His comments came during a visit to areas in southern Lebanon that Israel occupies.

Despite a ceasefire between the two sides, Israeli forces continue to maintain control over many points in southern Lebanon. Discussions are ongoing on Hezbollah disarmament and a full Israeli troop withdrawal. Meanwhile, Israel has continued carrying out periodic attacks in southern Lebanon.

A group of Lebanese lawyers has filed a case against influential banker Antoun Sehnaoui after he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, according to a report published July 29. More than a dozen lawyers jointly took the legal action on Wednesday, alleging that Sehnaoui violated Lebanese law by meeting the Israeli leader.

Axios journalist Barak Ravid posted a photograph on X showing Sehnaoui seated at a restaurant table with Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu. The report said the dinner was held Monday in memory of late US Senator Lindsey Graham and was jointly hosted by former US representative Morgan Ortagus and Sehnaoui. Netanyahu and several US officials attended, while Sehnaoui-linked outlet This Is Beirut confirmed the dinner.

Lebanon's 1955 law bars citizens from contact or business agreements with Israelis or Israeli authorities, with penalties including up to 10 years in prison and treason charges. The prosecutor's office received allegations of contact with the Israeli enemy, violation of the Israel boycott law, treason and disrupting national security. Lawyers said the judiciary would investigate and that an arrest warrant could be issued. Lebanon's foreign ministry declined immediate comment.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria has no intention of taking any military action in Lebanon, ruling out the use of force in relations with its neighbour. In an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera cited in a report published on July 27, 2026, he said Damascus supports the presence of strong state institutions in Lebanon.

Al-Sharaa said relations between Syria and Lebanon should be built on the rule of law rather than military power. The report said Damascus has consistently followed this approach in its contacts with Beirut over recent months. Syria and Lebanon share several major issues, including the refugee crisis, illicit drug shipments and efforts to prevent arms trafficking.

The Syrian government said it is actively working to halt such criminal activity. Syrian forces have seized multiple arms shipments sent from Iraq-based, Iran-backed armed groups to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, according to the report. Al-Sharaa also warned that any political or security instability in Lebanon would directly affect Syria, adding that Damascus does not want to see such a situation develop.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday. The meeting comes as pressure mounts on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, a key condition Israel has set before withdrawing its troops from southern Lebanon. The talks follow a U.S.-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel to begin implementing control in certain 'pilot areas' of southern Lebanon through the Lebanese army.

Aoun, a vocal critic of Hezbollah’s involvement in the recent Middle East war, hopes Trump will press Israel to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories. Israel, however, insists it will not pull back until Hezbollah is disarmed, a stance supported by Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Lebanon’s efforts to restore sovereignty and dismantle Hezbollah’s armed infrastructure, while analysts warned the agreement could prove highly unfavorable for Lebanon.

Aoun, Lebanon’s first president invited to Washington since 2009, is expected to seek additional U.S. support for the Lebanese army to carry out the difficult task of disarming Hezbollah, as regional tensions remain high.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has assured support for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a phone conversation held on Monday. According to a statement from the Lebanese president’s office, the two leaders discussed the current national and regional situation.

The statement said Saudi Arabia expressed support for President Aoun’s decisions aimed at safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The Crown Prince reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue assisting Lebanon in all priority areas identified by its government.

President Aoun thanked the Crown Prince for his cooperation and for measures taken to strengthen Lebanon’s economy. He also accepted an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia for further discussions on issues of mutual interest.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 4,328 people have been killed and more than 12,000 injured since Israeli attacks began on March 2. The rising number of casualties has deepened concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in the country. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, uncertainty remains over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has arrived at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to a post from the president’s office on X, the visit marks the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese president since 2009. Aoun is also scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

The visit takes place amid U.S.-supported direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. Just days earlier, officials from both countries concluded another round of negotiations in Rome under American mediation, according to Al Jazeera.

A United States military delegation has arrived in Beirut to assist in implementing a framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The delegation, sent by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), reached Lebanon on Friday, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The visit comes ahead of technical-level discussions scheduled next week in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli representatives. Lebanese officials told the Financial Times that the talks will focus on executing the US-brokered framework signed on June 26, which includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. The Anadolu news agency reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed CENTCOM is coordinating closely with both countries.

The deployment underscores Washington’s active role in facilitating the ceasefire process and ensuring compliance with the recently signed agreement.